Department for Transport

Navigation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of criminal investigations which have been undertaken into allegations relating to failure to maintain compulsory pilotage in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Mr John Hayes: The Department holds information on only one case of a criminal investigation, initiated in 2015, into allegations relating to failure to maintain compulsory pilotage in the last ten years.

Ports: Navigation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a duty on his Department to oversee or direct competent harbour authorities in the execution of their duties to provide pilotage services in accordance with the Pilotage Act 1987.

Mr John Hayes: The size and volume of traffic, conditions and risks vary greatly between different ports and harbours. Those who are responsible for their management are best placed, given the detailed local knowledge and expertise required, to determine what safety measures, including pilotage, are necessary within their limits and to enforce those requirements. The Pilotage Act 1987 requires competent harbor authorities to keep under review whether any, and if so what, pilotage is needed in their areas to maintain safety navigation. The Department provides guidance for competent harbor authorities in the form of the Port Marine Safety Code and best practice in the Guide to Good Practice.

Harbour Authorities

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent meetings his Ministers of his Department have had with representatives from Competent Harbour Authorities in the last 12 months.

Mr John Hayes: Given the importance and significance of the UK’s maritime industry, Ministers meet regularly with representatives from competent harbour authorities and a broad range of other maritime organisations.

Crossrail 2 Line: Haringey

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the transport, housing and economic benefits of Crossrail 2 for (a) Tottenham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Haringey.

Paul Maynard: The Crossrail 2 Strategic Outline Business Case, submitted to the Department by Transport for London, is currently under consideration by the Government to ensure it is a robust investment and delivers value for money. This includes the detailed assessment of the potential benefits of the scheme. No final decisions have yet been taken on the Crossrail 2 route.

Railways: North East

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the provision of rail services in (a) Tyne and Wear and (b) the North East of England.

Paul Maynard: Rail journeys across the north east will undergo the biggest transformation in decades, with an unprecedented package of improvements. By 2020 all the trains will be brand new or completely refurbished, and all the Pacer trains will be gone. Similarly, across the whole of the North there will be more than 500 brand-new train carriages, with room for 40,000 more passengers and 2,000 extra services a week. The 2nd Round of New Station Fund is providing £3.3 million towards a new station on the Durham Coast Line at Horden. The Government supports the Metro system with £317million for its reinvigoration and renewal programme and £230 million towards its running costs. The Transport Secretary last week unveiled the latest stage in the government’s record investment in Britain’s railways setting out the next round of rail funding, announcing that around £48 billion will be spent on the network over a 5 year period, from 2019 to 2024, including more maintenance and a huge uplift in renewals to increase reliability and punctuality for passengers.

ATOL

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to increase public awareness of the extent of the protection extended to commercial flights by ATOL.

Mr John Hayes: The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are taking a number of steps to increase the public’s awareness of ATOL protection. Consumers can find information about ATOL and the products and companies that are covered on the CAA’s website. CAA have also launched the ‘Pack Peace of Mind’ campaign to increase awareness of ATOL protection. We are also taking steps to ensure consumers are informed about ATOL protection when they book a holiday. Companies that sell ATOL protected holidays are already required to provide an ATOL certificate to consumers when they purchase a protected trip or flight. We will introduce additional pre and post-sale information requirements when we implement a new EU Package Travel Directive in 2018. The Government is continuing to keep this under review as we develop a new aviation strategy for the UK. In July 2017 we published a call for evidence on the aviation strategy, which invited views on whether further information provisions and consumer protections are needed in the sector. We will cover these issues in more detail in the next stage of the consultation.

Taxis: Guide Dogs

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to prevent taxi drivers from refusing to carry passengers with guide dogs.

Mr John Hayes: It is unacceptable that drivers continue to refuse assistance dogs and I strongly encourage licensing authorities to take robust action against those who are unwilling to comply. Under the Equality Act 2010 it is illegal for the driver of a taxi or Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) to refuse to carry an assistance dog unless they hold a medical exemption certificate issued by the local licensing authority. As part of the draft Accessibility Action Plan which is currently subject to a public consultation, we have committed to strengthen the best practice guidance on the provision of driver training, and what needs to be done to prevent refusals.

Airports: Northern Cyprus

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will review the decision to increase security requirements on passengers flying between Ercan International Airport and UK airports.

Mr John Hayes: All flights from Ercan to the UK are subject to additional passenger screening at the departure gate in Turkey. We believe these are necessary measures, especially given aviation remains a systemic target for terrorists, and those with malicious intent. We work with our international partners on aviation security, and keep measures under constant review.

Railway Stations: Access

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many station upgrades are due to start before April 2019 under the Network Rail Access for All scheme.

Paul Maynard: Since 2014 Access for All has completed 30 projects and another 7 are currently on site. A further 28 are due to start construction before 2019.

Railway Stations: Disability

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent on improving the accessibility of train stations for disabled people under Network Rail's Access for All scheme since 2014 in each region.

Paul Maynard: The spend on Access for All projects is recorded by Network Rail route and the cost of work done to date since 2014 is as follows: Anglia £11.872mEast Midlands £1.184mLondon North East £20.599mLondon North West £15.476mScotland £13.112mSussex £2.196mWales £6.387mWessex £12.828mWestern £5.583m

Railway Stations: Access

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many planned station upgrades under Network Rail's Access for All scheme have been (a) cancelled during rail control period 5 and (b) deferred to rail control period in each region.

Paul Maynard: No schemes under Access for All have been cancelled during Control Period 5. The construction of 26 stations has been deferred to Control Period 6 and these stations are in the following regions: North West 1North East 2East 3East Midlands 2West Midlands 1Wales 4West 1London 9South East 3

Bus Services: Franchises

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the detailed legislative guidance on the franchising powers made available to combined authorities with elected mayors under the provisions of the Bus Services Act 2017.

Jesse Norman: The Department plans to publish the guidance this autumn.

Shared Spaces: Disability

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made on the effect of shared-space schemes on disabled people.

Jesse Norman: The Department has published guidance for local authorities and practitioners on designing shared space schemes in Local Transport Note 1/11: Shared Space. To inform the advice given in the Local Transport Note, the Department commissioned an extensive research project in 2010, more information on which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shared-space. This included qualitative research with a number of different road user types: visually impaired pedestrians; mobility impaired pedestrians; pedestrians with learning difficulties; pedestrians who are deaf or hard of hearing; non-disabled pedestrians; and drivers. We have been working with the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, which has been carrying out a review of 12 shared space and other street design schemes. This will report soon, and provide recommendations for further work in this area. The draft Accessibility Action Plan, currently out for consultation, includes an action for us to consider CIHT’s recommendations, when received, and how to take them forward, by the end of 2017.

Road Traffic Control

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion on the strategic road network.

Jesse Norman: Tackling congestion is at the forefront of Government’s plans to provide a modern strategic road network that supports our growing economy. Government is investing in the largest programme of improvements on our national roads - £15 billion between 2015 and 2021. In addition to providing extra capacity on our busiest motorways by making them smart motorways, Government is improving specific parts of the network where investment can tackle congestion, improve journeys and support economic growth.

Home Office

Home Office: Pay

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if (a) employees and (b) contractors of her Department receive incentive payments in relation to the number of deportations from the UK they play a role in enabling.

Brandon Lewis: Service Providers or their employees do not receive incentive payments in relation to the number of deportations from the UK that they play a role in enabling.

Radicalism

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September to Question 6756, what guidance her Department (a) has provided or (b) plans to provide to financial institutions on how to respond to the Government's report on the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK.

Sarah Newton: The Government has engaged with the financial services sector on the review of the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK.This includes giving verbal guidance to the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce on the review’s findings and discussing with the group its approach to managing risks around non-violent extremism. The Government has also discussed the review with the British Bankers’ Association (now part of UK Finance).

Immigrants: Detainees

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a time limit on the period for which an individual can be detained for immigration purposes.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has no plans to introduce a fixed time limit on immigration detention as this would only encourage detainees to refuse to cooperate with immigration and asylum processes until they reached the point at which they had to be released from detention and thus avoid their enforced removal from the UK. Published Home Office policy is clear, however, that detention is only used for the shortest period necessary. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapters-46-to-62-detention-and-removals

Sleeping Rough: EU Nationals

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU citizens sleeping rough in the UK have been (a) detained and (b) deported in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017.

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the total number of  EU citizens sleeping rough in the UK that have been deported have been found guilty of committing a crime in the UK.

Brandon Lewis: This information can only be provided at disportionate cost.

Police: Finance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the Answer of 12 October 2017 to Question 9570, how many unsuccessful bids were made to the Police Transformation Fund; and what the amount was of each unsuccessful bid made to that fund.

Mr Nick Hurd: Details of the Police Transformation Fund awards have been published at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-transformation-fund-successful-bids-2017-to-2018

Refugees: Children

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will introduce a central database of unaccompanied children entering the UK.

Brandon Lewis: All asylum claimants, including unaccompanied children, are recorded on the Home Office’s Case Information Database (CID) system. Information recorded on this system is used to publish a range of data about asylum claims from unaccompanied children, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/how-many-people-do-we-grant-asylum-or-protection-to

Crime: Finance

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been made available to implement section 13 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to communicate guidance to the National Crime Agency to recommend freezing the assets of people implicated in the Magnitsky case.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a taskforce has been set up to implement Section 13 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has communicated guidance to the Director General of the National Crime Agency on the implementation of section 13 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many National Crime Agency personnel have been assigned to investigate people whose conduct constitutes, or is connected with, the commission of a gross human rights abuse or violation and to enforce the asset-freezing provisions in Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Mr Ben  Wallace: Section 13 of the Criminal Finances Act allows for civil recovery to be undertaken in cases in relation to property connected with gross human rights abuse or violations. It expands the definition of 'unlawful conduct' within Part 5 of POCA to include conduct by a public official that constitutes gross human rights abuse or violations (defined as torture or inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment) of a person on the grounds that they have been obtaining, exercising, defending or promoting human rights, or have sought to expose gross human rights abuse conducted by a public official.This new power also covers conduct occurring anywhere in the world, provided that it would constitute a sufficiently serious offence if it had occurred in the UK (i.e. that it would have been triable by indictment).There are a number of dependencies which must be implemented before the Act, including section 13, can be commenced. Work is underway to ensure the necessary court rules, secondary legislation, training, guidance and human resources are in place for commencement of the Act by Summer 2018.

HM Treasury

Child Tax Credit

Melanie Onn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many kinship carers have been denied child tax credit, for a baby to whom they or their partner have given birth, as a result of the restriction of child tax credit to two children in a household since 6 April 2017.

Elizabeth Truss: The government is committed to making the welfare system fair for those who pay for it as well as those who benefit from it. In recognition that some tax credit claimants are not able to make choices about the number of children in their family, the government has provided exceptions for certain groups, including in cases of kinship care. Data on the exceptions is intended for publication at a future date following quality assurance.

Gaming Machines

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the potential fiscal effect is of reducing the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals to (a) £2, (b) £10, (c) £20, (d) £30 and (e) £100.

Andrew Jones: Gambling regulation is a matter for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. The DCMS are currently undertaking a review of the Gambling Industry, and expect to publish a consultation document shortly. As the DCMS develops policy in this area, HM Treasury will work closely with them to establish the fiscal effect.

UK Trade with EU

Chuka Umunna: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential additional bureaucratic requirements that will be imposed on British businesses in the event that the UK leaves the Customs Union.

Mel Stride: One of the government’s key objectives for the UK’s future customs regime is to ensure that trade including that with the EU remains as frictionless as possible. At this stage the level of future facilitation at the border between the UK and the EU is unknown and subject to the outcome of negotiations. It is therefore not possible to weigh up the costs and benefits to business. The government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work to assess, across a range of scenarios on a sector by sector basis, the economic impacts of exiting the European Union, but this analysis is sensitive in the context of negotiations with the EU. As Parliament has agreed, it would not be appropriate to publish any such information that could damage our negotiating position.

Social Services: Minimum Wage

Paul Blomfield: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of social care employers found to be non-compliant with the national minimum wage have had arrears identified by self-correction since January 2016.

Mel Stride: The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HMRC review all complaints that are referred to them. Between January 2016 and 31 March 2017, HMRC closed 102 social care employer investigations where NMW arrears were identified. 42 employers out of this total (41%) were instructed to self-correct a limited amount of the identified arrears. HMRC does not provide in year data as this has not been verified, so data post 31 March 2017 cannot be provided at this time.

Revenue and Customs: Cornwall

Chris Stephens: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 46 of HM Revenue and Customs Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17, whether HM Revenue and Customs took account of the minority status of the Cornish under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities when it made location decisions under the Building our Future Programme.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) conducted People and Equality Impact Assessments using known workforce management data as part of the initial planning for its Locations Programme. All staff will have a one-to-one discussion with their manager around a year ahead of any move. These discussions will establish if staff can move and the level of support required, and the potential impact on people with protected characteristics, including national origin. HMRC’s approach considers all impacts across all of the groups protected under equality legislation. It is continually assessing, managing and refreshing the documenting of these impacts and associated actions.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made on the effect on the wine and spirit industry of the 3.9 per cent increase in duty paid.

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to support the wine and spirits industry after the UK leaves the EU.

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to halt the planned increases in wine and spirits duty.

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the planned increases to the duty applied to wines and spirits in the November budget.

Andrew Jones: As for every Finance Bill measure, HMRC provided a Tax Impact Information Note which included an impact assessment of alcohol duty changes. This can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-duty-rate-changes/alcohol-duty-rate-changes The government keeps all taxes under review at fiscal events, and we will consider this issue carefully as part of the Autumn Budget process. Any changes to alcohol duties need to take account of a wide range of factors, including the Exchequer impact, the impact on businesses and consumers, public health and the distributional impact of reform. Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. We will seek to achieve the right deal for Britain and for the EU.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 6005, what plans HM Revenue and Customs has to conduct compliance work nationally from a reduced number of tax offices.

Mel Stride: HMRC has always taken a risk-based approach to its compliance interventions, allowing it to focus its resources on the highest tax risks which it tackles through a wide range of targeted compliance interventions. This national risk-based model and compliance approach has enabled HMRC to secure more than £160 billion in compliance yield since 2010. This amount increased year-on-year as the model has been further refined, reaching a record £28.9 billion in 2016-17. HMRC’s world-leading data and analytical function gives it an informed view of tax risks across the whole of the UK; including geographically remote areas. All of the available evidence shows that the highest compliance risks are in, or close to, urban centres, and that 95 per cent of the highest risks are within 90 minutes’ drive of one of the planned Regional Centres or Specialist Sites. Although face-to-face compliance work will continue to have an important role, HMRC will only use it where it is the most efficient way to progress an intervention or regulatory requirement. As its use of data and customer insight continues to grow, more of this work will be done remotely, supported by high-profile targeted taskforce interventions that will enable it to address compliance risks in more remote locations.

Bank Services

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to allow (a) bank customers and (b) customers of open banking services greater control over their banking data.

Stephen Barclay: The Government laid the Payment Services Regulations on 19 July 2017, which supports bank customers to take greater control over their data. The Government is also working with the Open Banking Implementation Entity to implement the CMA Retail Banking Market Investigation Order. The order facilitates the introduction of a range of Open Banking services for bank customers from 2018. Open Banking allows customers to exercise control over their data in a way that is secure, safe and standardised.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Iron and Steel

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9980, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress his Department has made on delivering greater UK steel content in line with the public procurement guidelines published by the Government in April 2016.

Claire Perry: All public authorities are required to implement government guidelines that set out how government buyers should source steel for major projects so that the true value of UK steel is taken into account in major procurement decisions.We are currently checking that central government departments are implementing the guidelines in their procurement decisions. We have also published future steel requirements to 2020, to enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for government contracts.

Energy: Housing

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential financial effect on consumers of implementation of the recommendations set out in the Each Home Counts review.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will list the dates when he and Ministers of his Department met the Each Home Counts implementation board since December 2016.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the total cost to the public purse is of the Each Home Counts review.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether industry members of the Each Home Counts implementation board receive a payment from his Department.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has conducted an economic impact assessment of the recommendations set out in the Each Home Counts review; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the total cost to industry of the quality mark proposals recommended by the Each Home Counts implementation board.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Each Home Counts implementation board has no financial interest in the outcome of its recommendations.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to consult gas-safe registered installers on the Each Home Counts implementation board's recommendations.

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking to steps to ensure that gas-safe registered installers are not required to undertake additional work as a result of the Each Home Counts review.

Claire Perry: The Each Home Counts review was an independent review, led by Dr. Peter Bonfield, which published its report in December 2016. Implementation of Each Home Counts is being led by industry, with the support of Government. All members of the Implementation Board participate on a voluntary basis with no remuneration and are required to declare any conflicts of interest. Where conflicts are identified members are excluded from any decision making process in which they would have an actual or perceived conflict. Ministers have not met with the Implementation Board since December 2016, but Departmental officials are present at meetings as observers.The approach taken by the Board has been to encourage constructive stakeholder participation and engage across the sector. A broad range of stakeholders have been involved, including members representative of GasSafe installers.One of the main recommendations from the Review was to establish a quality mark for retrofit energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, and for companies operating in this sector.It is for industry to propose how the new quality mark framework will be structured and financed. As indicated in the Review it is intended that action build on good practice so reducing bureaucracy and potential duplication and reducing cost for industry and consumers overall.The Each Home Counts review recognised that there is already good practice in the sector and many organisations operate to high standards. Where the quality mark requirements are already being met, companies will be able to apply to operate under the quality mark without further improvements. There is no intention from Government to make participation in the proposed Each Home Counts quality mark mandatory for any business or sector. As there is no regulatory requirement, Government does not plan to conduct a dedicated economic impact assessment for Each Home Counts.

Renewable Energy

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources.

Richard Harrington: Holding answer received on 17 October 2017



In 2016, renewables share of total generation was nearly 25% of UK electricity generation, and we are on track to meet our ambition of delivering 30% of the UK’s electricity from renewables in 2020-21. Recent steps to continue this progress include the latest Contracts for Difference round in which we secured a further 3.3GW of renewable electricity, enough to power 3.6 million homes.Just last week I was pleased to announce that up to £557 million will be made available for less established renewable electricity projects as part of the government’s Clean Growth Strategy, to drive economic growth and clean up the energy system. The next Contracts for Difference auction is planned for spring 2019.

Job Creation: North East

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support job creation schemes in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.

Margot James: Through the North East LEP Growth Deal we are supporting economic development with £379.6m of Local Growth Fund, including that for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, partly in your constituency. The North East LEP estimates that their Growth Deal will lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs.In addition to this we have agreed two City Deals. One for Newcastle with a £90m infrastructure programme, and one for Sunderland and South Tyneside worth £87.5m, which Sunderland City council predict will create 5,200 jobs.Across England, Growth Hubs provide businesses with access to tailored local advice and support to help them grow. Within the North East this has provided nearly 1,200 businesses with coaching and support.It is also worth noting that there are over 55,000 more people in employment in the North East LEP area than the equivalent period in 2010.

Energy: Prices

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of competition conditions for domestic supply contracts within the retail energy market; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Since 2010, the number of domestic energy suppliers in the UK has increased from 13 to over 60 and independent suppliers now have over 20% share of the dual fuel market. In addition, almost 3 million electricity and gas switches took place between January and July this year.However, the Competition and Markets Authority has found that millions of domestic energy customers were paying around £1.4 billion annually more than they would if the market were functioning effectively. On 12 October the Government published a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny that would require Ofgem to put in place a temporary price cap on standard variable and default tariffs.

Homebase: Closures

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support the Government is offering to the employees affected by the closure of some Homebase stores.

Margot James: We have mobilised Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid response Service to help workers get back into employment as soon as possible. This service is tailored to individuals’ needs and can include some or all of the following:- Help with job searches, including CV writing and interview skills;- Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps, linked to the local labour market;- Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised certification that will improve employability;- Help to overcome barriers to attending training, securing a job or self-employment, such as child care costs, tools, work clothes and travel costs.It is worth noting that in June, Bunnings, the owner of Homebase, announced plans to create over 1,000 new jobs in the UK.

Fracking: Ryedale

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment that (a) the relevant criteria for hydraulic fracturing consent have been met for the KM8 wellsite in Ryedale, North Yorkshire and (b) it is appropriate to grant hydraulic fracturing consent; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: The Government is assessing and will respond appropriately in due course.

Industry

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what criteria the Government used to decide (a) how much should be allocated to different sectors through the industrial strategy and (b) which sectors should be granted a sector deal.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Business: Local Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on productivity of local council business support programmes.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Construction: Equality

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to promote (a) gender and (b) racial diversity in the construction industry.

Margot James: The Government is committed to supporting the construction sector to increase the gender and ethnic diversity of its workforce, to ensure there are opportunities for all who wish to pursue construction careers, regardless of their background. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has developed a ‘Be Fair’ framework, which includes freely available fairness and inclusion training modules for construction firms.In addition, CITB’s careers hub, ‘Go Construct’, provides online guidance and case studies for prospective employees - and employers - on a range of diversity topics, including gender and race. We are engaged in discussions with the sector as to how further improvements in its diversity can best be achieved.

Vauxhall Motors: Redundancy

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to ensure jobs are available of equivalent skills for workers who lose their jobs at Vauxhall Ellesmere Port.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vauxhall Motors: Exchange Rates

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on manufacturing costs at Vauxhall Ellesmere Port of changes in the exchange rate since the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vauxhall Motors: Redundancy

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) businesses and (b) representatives of the Vauxhall Ellesmere Port supply chain workforce on job losses at that plant.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1966

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what changes have been made to the Model Clauses incorporated in PL080 Licence from the Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1966.

Richard Harrington: The model clauses incorporated into the Licence are those deriving from Schedule 3 of The Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1966 as set out in Schedule 3 of the Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999.

Hinkley Point C Power Station: South Wales

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on minimising any potential effect of radioactive sediment from the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant on the South Wales coastline.

Richard Harrington: Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators.

Industry

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to whom businesses developing sector deals as part of the industrial strategy should submit their proposals.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Industry

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many sectors have responded to his open door challenge and are negotiating a sector deal as part of the industrial strategy with his Department.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Industry

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to provide guidance to businesses on (a) the process, (b) the expectations and (c) the sign-off procedures for creating sector deals as part of the industrial strategy.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hinkley Point C Power Station: South Wales

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of radioactive sediment from the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant on the South Wales coastline.

Richard Harrington: Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators.

Hinkley Point C Power Station: South Wales

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how he plans to ensure the safety of the South Wales coastline in relation to potential effect of radioactive sediment from the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant.

Richard Harrington: Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators.

Bombardier: USA

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he and his Cabinet colleagues made to (a) their counterparts in the US Administration and (b) US industry on subsidies provided by Washington State for Boeing's Dreamliner.

Richard Harrington: The European Union has competency for all trade matters that involve the WTO and while we have been closely engaged with the Commission they led all the negotiations and arguments concerning the case regarding Washington State’s support for Boeings Dreamliner.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

USA: Counter-terrorism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has received information obtained by the US Administration through provisions within the USA Patriot Act of 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Syria: Politics and Government

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of how many Syrians have been disappeared by the Assad regime; and what proportion of those people are children.

Alistair Burt: Due to the Asad regime's refusal to allow impartial monitoring of its detention centres, it is not possible to give an exact figure for the number of people who have been disappeared. Human rights groups estimate that tens, possibly hundreds, of thousands of men, women, and children have been forcibly disappeared in Syria since the war began – the vast majority of them at the hands of the regime. The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria has documented the regime's use of 'massive and systematised' violence against political detainees, and stated that the regime's use of disappearance, torture, rape and sexual violence amount to crimes against humanity.

Iran: Political Prisoners

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request a UN investigation into the 1988 executions of political prisoners in Iran.

Alistair Burt: The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously. Whilst at present we have no plans to request an inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into the 1988 executions of political prisoners in Iran, we continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran. We also raise our concerns directly with the Iranian government and I was able to raise this directly with my Iranian counterpart during my visit to Tehran in August.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) by all parties. We assess that the deal is working and is the only diplomatic way to neutralise the nuclear threat from Iran. Under the deal Iran has given up two-thirds of its centrifuges and 95% of its uranium stockpile. The deal also provides for unprecedented access and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA continues to report Iran's compliance with its nuclear commitments under the deal.

Libya: Politics and Government

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the British diplomatic and military support for the Government of Libya.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its response to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee investigation on "Libya: Examination of Intervention and Collapse and the UK's Future Policy Options" on 11 November 2016. Helping to bring stability to Libya is a vital part of UK efforts to tackle the threat from terrorism and the challenge of irregular migration. That is why the UK is at the forefront of efforts to support the UN Special Representative, Ghassan Salamé in reaching out to all sides in Libya to revitalise the political process and work to amend the Libyan Political Agreement so that it delivers for all Libyans. A secure and stable Libya, better able to deal with the threat from terrorism and the challenge of migration, is firmly in the UK interest.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that the UK Mission to the UN in New York makes representations on the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran during its statement at the Third Committee meetings of the UN General Assembly.

Alistair Burt: I recently met representatives of the Baha'i faith to discuss the issue. The human rights situation in Iran remains deeply worrying and this includes Iran's approach to freedom of religion and belief. The treatment of the Baha'i community is of particular concern. The latest report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran sets out the repression and harassment that Baha'is suffer in Iran. This includes restrictions on the types of businesses and jobs Baha'is can have, unequal treatment of Baha'i employees, and seizures of Baha'i businesses and property. We hope to highlight the situation of the Baha'i with the UN General Assembly Third Committee in New York.

Andargachew Tsege

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has investigated how Andargachew Tsege's itinerary was shared with the Ethiopian authorities in advance of his kidnap from an airport in a third country.

Rory Stewart: Mr Tsege was detained in Yemen and taken to Ethiopia in June 2014. Following Foreign and Commonwealth Office inquiries the Ethiopian and Yemeni authorities have both stated that they have a bilateral treaty that permited Mr Tsege’s extradition to Ethiopia. The UK Government continues to take Mr Tsege’s case extremely seriously and is working to ensure his welfare and legal access. The Ethiopian government are in no doubt about the importance we place on Mr Tsege’s case: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to raise this at the highest levels.​​

Iran: Human Rights

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to co-sponsor a resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran at the current session of the UN General Assembly.

Alistair Burt: The British Government has supported a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran in the past and will do so again co-sponsoring a resolution this year.

USA: North Korea

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on diplomatic tensions between the US and North Korea.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign Secretary speaks regularly to US Secretary of State Tillerson about the situation in North Korea. We are working with the US and our partners in the region to bring this crisis to a diplomatic end.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with the Special Rapporteur on Iran, Ms Asma Jahangir, or with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion, Dr Ahmed Shaheed on the treatment of the Bahá'ís in Iran.

Alistair Burt: At the Human Rights Council in March 2017, the UK strongly supported the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We look forward to engaging with the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran during the interactive dialogue in the UNGA Third Committee. The British Government supports the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran's assessment that discrimination against the Baha'i community is legally sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith.

Andargachew Tsege

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether Andargachew Tsege's in absentia death sentence is unlawful.

Rory Stewart: ​The British Government consistently lobbies against the application of the death penalty, and against the carrying out of such sentences when they are imposed. In respect of UK nationals overseas, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's role is primarily to look after a prisoner's welfare while they are detained. We cannot give or pay for legal advice, start legal proceedings on their behalf or interfere in local judicial procedures. We do not hold any information on, and are therefore not in a position to form a view as to, the legality of the process in this case but we remain resolute opponents of the death penalty.

South Sudan: Abduction

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the abduction of young people in the Darfur region of South Sudan for (a) militia recruitment and (b) body parts for medical purposes.

Rory Stewart: We have received no reports on the abduction of young people in Darfur for the purposes of militia recruitment or for body parts for medical purposes.The UK remains concerned by the situation in Darfur, and whilst we have seen a welcome reduction in armed conflict between government forces and armed movements in recent months, the security and humanitarian situation remains fragile. We regularly discuss the situation in Darfur with the Government of Sudan, most recently on 16 October during our bilateral Strategic Dialogue, and urge them to continue to improve humanitarian access and to reach an agreement on a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinion No. 28/2016 on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I encourage the Iranian authorities to co-operate and engage fully with the United Nations regarding the conclusions and recommendations of reports published by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps have been taken to secure consular access to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe since recent new charges have been brought against her.

Alistair Burt: Our Ambassador in Tehran continues to raise all our dual-national cases, including pressing for consular access, with the Iranian authorities at every available opportunity, most recently in a meeting with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on 16 October. The Iranians have not granted us access on the basis that they consider them to be Iranian nationals. While there is no international legal obligation to recognise dual-nationality, we consider them to be British and will continue to request access.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian Government on the new charges being brought against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe; and what steps the Government has taken to secure her release.

Alistair Burt: We are urgently seeking clarification from the Iranian authorities on reports that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is subject to further charges. I called the Iranian Ambassador to express my concerns, as did the Foreign Secretary in a call to Foreign Minister Zarif and a meeting with Vice-President Salehi on 11 October. But the scope of any additional charges remains unclear. Our Ambassador is continuing to press the Iranian authorities for further information. Iran’s position on dual-nationality makes progress on our consular cases difficult; nonetheless we continue to raise these cases with the Iranian authorities at the highest levels and at every available opportunity. We assess that our current approach is the one most likely to be in the best interests of our dual-national prisoners in Iran.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Pay

Jo Churchill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of publishing details of all public sector pay above the £100,000 threshold for which it holds the relevant information.

Caroline Nokes: The Civil Service aims to be as transparent as possible, and already discloses a significant amount of senior pay data. The Office for National Statistics publishes a range of detailed pay information in its annual release of Civil Service Statistics, including the number of staff earning over £100,000 and other pay information. The latest release is available at:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatisticsIn addition, since 2010 the Government has published an annual list of individuals in departments, agencies and Non-departmental Public Bodies earning £150,000 and above. Departments also publish organograms every six months that include individualised salary information for their most senior staffRelevant departments are responsible for transparency policy in wider public sector workforces.

Government Departments: Buildings

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Government Property Unit calculated that 75 per cent of staff will relocate to a hub less than 10 miles from their current office and that 90 per cent will relocate within 25 miles, as set out in the National Audit Office report Progress on the government estate strategy.

Caroline Nokes: The Government Hubs Programme will consolidate office space in locations with asignificant Civil Service presence.The location of a strategic hub is based on rigorous criteria including excellent connectionsto a range of local and national public transport options to ensure that it is accessible.Moreover, they are chosen in consultation with the major departmental occupiers plannedfor that Hub, to ensure that it meets their workforce and operational requirements.The percentages quoted in the NAO report were based on GPU’s assessment, at the time,of the proposed capacity of a new hub and the number of staff based in offices within a 10-and 25-mile radius of the city centres (where Hubs are planned to be).Moreover, the locations are chosen in consultation with the major departmental occupiersplanned for that Hub, to ensure that it meets their workforce and operational requirements.

Government Departments: Buildings

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has a target for the number of homes to be built on disposed of Government estate assets.

Caroline Nokes: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Government Departments: Sign Language

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government (a) department and (b) Minister is responsible for the promotion and recognition of British Sign Language.

Caroline Nokes: Under the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty, all Governmentdepartments have a responsibility to create inclusive communications. This does notmean promoting BSL as an activity in itself but it does mean identifying and meetingthe communication needs of the audiences we are targeting (for example, whereformats could include Braille, BSL, easy read etc).

Action Fraud: Finance

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Strategy, how much funding has been allocated to the Action Fraud helpline.

Caroline Nokes: In November 2016 the Government published a new five year National Cyber SecurityStrategy 2016 - 2021, which defines our vision and ambition for the future: a UK that issecure and resilient to cyber threats. The strategy is being implemented through theNational Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), which allocates transformative investment tolead government departments to support delivery of the objectives set out in the strategy.In 2017/18, we have committed £30 million of NCSP money for law enforcement andcombating cyber crime. Of this, £4,801,300 has been allocated to the City of LondonPolice, which includes £3,200,000 funding specifically for Action Fraud.In 2016/17, the City of London Police received £3,153,296 NCSP funding, of which£2,775,000 was spent on funding for Action Fraud.The Home Office also separately funds the Action Fraud/ National Fraud IntelligenceBureau (NFIB) capability. In 2016/17 this totalled £7,443,000. £8 million has beenallocated to this capability in 2017/18.

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 15 December 2016 to Question 57073, what the cost to the public purse of the gov.uk Verify system has been to date.

Caroline Nokes: There are no more recent audited figures than those published in the answer of 15December 2016 to Question 57073, GOV.UK Verify has cost £54.4m to develop and hassaved £111.44m.

Cabinet Office: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in his Department are part of the Government Commercial Function; and how many of those civil servants have been seconded (a) outside of government and (b) in from outside of the government in each year since 2012.

Caroline Nokes: The Government Commercial Function is staffed by employees working across many CivilService Departments. Within the Cabinet Office as at 30 th September 2017, there are 27.5FTE in the Government Commercial Function who set the vision and direction of theGovernment Commercial Function and support the running of the GovernmentCommercial Organisation.The Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), founded in 2016, is the Centralemployer of senior Commercial staff across the Civil Service. As at 30 th September 2017 itemploys 220 people as part of the Cabinet Office. Members of the GCO all sit withingovernment departments, working on commercial contracts within those departments. Twomembers of the GCO are out on secondment, to MHRA and NEST. No members of theGCO have been seconded in to the Civil Service.

Cabinet Office: Disclosure of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to facilitate whistleblowing in his Department and its arm-length bodies.

Caroline Nokes: Over the last year a great deal of work has been undertaken in Cabinet Office to ensure allstaff are confident in raising whistleblowing concerns and assured that action will be takenas a result. This includes:A new whistleblowing and raising concerns policy was introduced in July 2016, bringing the department in line with cross government best practice. This policy gives a clear outline of how to raise a whistleblowing concern in the department.6 Nominated Officers have been trained over the last year and are currently in post to support staff and managers with raising whistleblowing concerns as an independent person. 3 additional Nominated Officers are to be trained in the next two months to ensure coverage in larger units as well as those units that may need to approach someone with higher security clearance.A DG whistleblowing champion was put in place in October 2017.Cabinet Office’s bespoke line manager training course includes a section that covers whistleblowing and how to deal with a whistleblowing concern as a line manager.Cabinet Office took part in the cross government whistleblowing awareness week in October 2016 and whistleblowing awareness day in September 2017.A new ‘Speak Up’ campaign was launched in April 2017 aimed at encouraging staff to raise all types of concerns. This campaign was refreshed in September 2017.The Civil Service Commission attended a recent all staff diversity event to raise awareness of their part in hearing whistleblowing concerns under the Civil Service code.Data is regularly collected and reviewed on numbers and types of concerns raised to inform continuous action and communications.Further communications are planned throughout the year to ensure on-going awareness of the ways individuals can raise whistleblowing concerns.

Data Protection

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK data privacy legislation of not incorporating into UK law, Article 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Caroline Nokes: The UK has a long history of protecting the rights of its citizens, and we intend to continueto protect those rights through our domestic legislation. The Data Protection Bill will sethigh standards for protecting personal data in accordance with the GDPR. We​ ​will​​continue​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​world-class standard​ ​of​ ​data​ ​protection​ ​after we leave the EuropeanUnionThe removal of the Charter from UK law should not affect the substantive rights thatindividuals already benefit from in the UK when their data are processed. The Charter isnot the source of rights contained within it, it was intended only to catalogue rights thatalready existed in EU law. The Government has committed to implementing the GDPR,which affords individuals judicial redress in the event of a data breach.

Referendums

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward proposals to provide for the appointment of sub-agents at any future national referendum.

Chris Skidmore: Referendums held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(PPERA) have not previously allowed for sub-agents to be appointed by referendumagents. We will consider this matter further with the Electoral Commission and theAssociation of Electoral Administrators (AEA).

Crown Commercial Service: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2017 to Question 7708, on Crown Commercial Service: procurement, what the two contracts were where the tender ran for longer than one year.

Caroline Nokes: The two procurements that took longer to award than twelve months in 2013-14 wereConsultancyOne (RM 1502) and Locum Doctors including Locum GPs (RM 1570).

Absent Voting

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will assess the merits of introducing a process to cancel a postal ballot paper issued to an elector who is subsequently deleted from the electoral register during an election period.

Chris Skidmore: Electoral law is clear that a person must be included in the register of electors for apoll in order to be entitled to vote at that poll. The Government recognises that it ispossible for postal ballot papers to be issued to a postal voter who may subsequentlybe removed from the register to be used at the poll. We will look to review the currentprovisions on the cancellation of postal ballot papers to see whether improvementscan be made to the law in this area.

Electoral Register

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will assess the merits of clarifying the arrangements around deferring publication of the electoral register where an election occurs during the defined canvass period.

Chris Skidmore: The Government recognises that greater clarity could be provided on deferringpublication of the electoral register under these circumstances. We will keep thematter under review and address it when the opportunity arises.

Brexit

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister authorised the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the comments made by Lord Maude on the UK leaving the EU with the media.

Damian Green: It is not unusual for the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service to commentpublicly on matters relating to the management of the Civil Service. Information relating tointernal discussion and advice is not disclosed.

New Businesses: Bolton

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Government holds on the number of new businesses that were established in Bolton in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. Ihave asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response
(PDF Document, 65.28 KB)

Zero Hours Contracts: Blackburn with Darwen

Kate Hollern: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of employees in Blackburn with Darwen were on zero hours contracts in each year for which data is available.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. Ihave asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response
(PDF Document, 124.82 KB)

General Election 2017: Costs

Darren Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the cost to the public purse of holding the general election 2017.

Chris Skidmore: The Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office notified Parliament of the forecast costof the UK general election of £140,850,000 in a Written Ministerial Statement on 13September 2017 (Hansard Volume 628, reference HCWS130).

Public Sector: Equality

Afzal Khan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) groups and (b) organisations were involved in stakeholder consultation exercises as part of the Race Disparity Audit, broken down by (i) sector, (ii) race and (iii) ethnicity.

Damian Green: Holding answer received on 17 October 2017



All UK Government Departments, the Office for National Statistics, the UK Statistics Authority and all three Devolved Administrations have been consulted about the development of the Audit. Outside organisations consulted about the Race Disparity Audit are listed below. Data is not held on the race or ethnicity of individuals who were consulted. Academic sectorAcademy Of Medical SciencesBirkbeck College, University of LondonBristol UniversityBritish AcademyHuddersfield UniversityLondon School of EconomicsNatCen Social ResearchRoyal SocietySheffield UniversityUniversities UKUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of EssexUniversity of LondonUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of OxfordUniversity of Sheffield Non-Government OrganisationsBelongBEMIS ScotlandBig Lottery FundBite the BallotBlack ThriveBlack Training and Enterprise GroupBME Health ForumBRAPBritish Heart FoundationBusiness in the CommunityCancer Research UKCEMVO ScotlandChanging the Chemistry (CtC)Chinese Health Living CentreCitizens AdviceData OrchardEducation and Employers TaskforceEmployers Network for Equality and InclusionEquality and Diversity ForumEquality and Human Rights CommissionFriends, Families and TravellersFullFactGypsy Traveller EmpowermentInclusion CornwallInstitute for Public Policy ResearchJoseph Rowntree FoundationKings FundNational Black Women’s NetworkNorthern Ireland Council for Racial EqualityOffice for Fair AccessOlmecOne Voice For TravellersOpen Data InstituteOperation Black VoteQED UKRace Equality FoundationRace on the AgendaRJ WorkingRoma Support GroupRoyal Academy of EngineeringRoyal College of PsychiatristsRunnymede TrustSt Giles TrustThe Leeds GATEVoice 4 ChangeWork FoundationYoung Foundation Private sectorGreen Park Ltd Public sectorBradford City CouncilBradford CollegeBradford Health and Well Being BoardCamden CouncilCity of London Academies TrustCornwall CouncilGreater London AuthorityHackney CouncilHaringey CouncilHarris FederationHigher Education Funding Council for EnglandLambeth CouncilOffice for StudentsNHS BME NetworkNHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning GroupNHS Yorkshire and Humber Commissioning SupportRoyal Cornwall Hospital TrustSheffield CouncilSouth London and Maudsley NHS Trust

GDS Advisory Board

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2017 to Question 6989, for what reason the Government Digital Service Advisory Board has not met since January 2017.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2017 to Question 6989, whether there is a timetable for quarterly meetings of the Government Digital Service Advisory Board.

Caroline Nokes: A combination of factors has meant that the GDS Advisory Board has not met sinceJanuary 2017. In particular, GDS deemed it sensible to wait until the outcome of thegeneral election before convening a meeting of the GDS Advisory Board to understandfully any impacts on future prioritiesA meeting was scheduled for 9 October but due to a lack of board member availability, thisis being rescheduled to early November. There is a provisional date for a further meetingon 22 January 2018 but at present there is not a timetable for future quarterly meetingsbeyond this.

Electoral Register

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to establish an online service to enable people to check if they are registered to vote.

Chris Skidmore: Determining an individual’s registration status is the responsibility of Electoral RegistrationOfficers and only EROs hold up-to- date information allowing a citizen to check if they areregistered. This means that citizens can contact their local electoral administration office tomake enquiries about registration status.Making information about registration status available on-line on a national basis would bea significant undertaking and we have no current plans to introduce such a system. It maybe more appropriate for EROs to work with their software suppliers to make registersavailable for checking on-line.

Electoral Register

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding was allocated by the Government to support (a) the registration of UK electors overseas and (b) residents without a fixed address in advance of the (i) 2017 General Election, (ii) EU referendum and (iii) 2015 General Election.

Chris Skidmore: Most funding for electoral registration is the responsibility of local authorities. However, inrecent years (including all the years in question) the Cabinet Office has made availableextra funding to cover the additional costs of Individual Electoral Registration. Suchfunding will have assisted with the cost of any targeted canvassing of groups such asthose without a fixed address or overseas electors. However it is not possible to estimatethe specific costs of such activity.

Electoral Register

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure consistency in Unique Property Reference Numbers for the database used by councils and the gov.uk/register-to-vote website.

Chris Skidmore: Citizens applying to register to vote using the Government website must enter theiraddress. After verification, citizen applications are passed to Electoral RegistrationOfficers. The record passed to each ERO includes the Unique Property ReferenceNumber (UPRN) drawn from an Ordnance Survey database. It is up to each ERO how tomake use of this UPRN.

Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what safeguards are in place to ensure that people registered to vote outside of the UK do not register in more than one parliamentary constituency.

Chris Skidmore: British citizens outside the UK can only register as an overseas elector in the constituency in which they were registered to vote, provided that entry was in force within 15 years of them making an overseas elector&#39;s declaration. Section 2(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 prevents a person from specifying more than one address on the declaration; and also prevents a person from having more than one declaration in force at any one time.Registration Officers have the power to request information required to prove this. Providing false information to a registration officer is an offence and for England and Wales can result in up to 51 weeks imprisonment or an unlimited fine, and for Scotland up to 6 months imprisonment or a maximum fine of £5,000.

Local Government: Elections

Chris Green: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government has taken to implement the recommendations of Sir Eric Pickles' review of electoral fraud entitled Securing the ballot, not including the voter ID pilots planned for the May 2018 local elections.

Chris Skidmore: The Government’s view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. Sir Eric Pickles’ review made a number of recommendations for strengthening the integrity of the electoral process. In addition to the voter ID pilots taking place in the May 2018 elections, Tower Hamlets will also pilot changes to postal voting. The Government is also seeking to end the practice of postal vote harvesting through measures that will prohibit party campaigners from handling postal votes, and apply a limit to the number of postal ballots that any one individual can hand in at a polling station. Additionally, the Electoral Commission has addressed 7 recommendations through guidance in response to the Pickles Review.The Government is considering the way forward on the other recommendations made by Sir Eric Pickles, and will continue to consider how to improve the integrity of electoral processes more generally.

Department for International Development

Malaria

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to replenish out-of-date bed nets in malaria-endemic countries.

Alistair Burt: DFID is the second largest international funder to the global malaria response. We fund the provision of bednets for new users and to replace older bednets, through bilateral country programmes, and through the significant UK investment in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. With UK funding the Global Fund will provide 79 million insecticide treated long lasting bednets from 2014 to 2019.

Department for Education

Graduates: Disadvantaged

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students from disadvantaged backgrounds graduated from university in the last three years.

Joseph Johnson: Information on the number of disadvantaged young people entering higher education, and non-continuation of young disadvantaged first degree students is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England via the following link: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/HEinEngland/students/social/.

Apprentices: Older People

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) men and (b) women over 60-years of age have (i) started and (ii) completed an apprenticeship in each of the last seven years.

Anne Milton: The tables below show the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements of those aged over 60-years of age in the last six academic years:i) Apprenticeship Starts for those aged over 60 years by Gender 2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Provisional 2016/17Female over 601,1309807401,0901,1601,320Male over 601,5101,2809601,3301,3301,330 ii) Apprenticeship Achievements for those aged over 60 years by Gender 2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Provisional 2016/17Female over 60520460360330420460 Male over 60590720460510590560 Note: The Starts and Achievements statistics should not be used to measure percentage progress within a year. They are independent performance metrics. Typically, apprenticeships can take two years to complete.Data on apprenticeship starts and achievements by age band, and by gender are available in the apprenticeship demographic tools:Starts: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/624584/apprenticeships-demographics-data-tool-starts-v1.xlsx.Achievements: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/624824/apprenticeships-demographics-data-tool-achievements-v1.xlsx.

Children: Day Care

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the 30 hours free childcare entitlement on childcare providers' ability to (a) employ and (b) support (i) qualified early years teachers and (ii) other staff with suitable qualifications.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In March 2017 we published the Early Years Workforce Strategy which sets out the actions we will take to support the early years’ sector to attract, retain and develop the early years’ workforce. There has been no assessment of the effect of 30 hours’ free childcare on providers’ ability to employ and support qualified teachers and other staff.

Pre-school Education: Pupil Premium

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of eligible three and four year-olds in England are not claiming the early years pupil premium.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry, but the proportion of eligible three and four year old children in England who are not claiming the early years pupil premium is not held by the Department.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Children and Families of 12 October 2017, Official Report, column 212WH, in how many instances parents are using 30 hours of free childcare with (a) one provider, (b) two providers and (c) more that two providers.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry but we do not currently hold data on how many parents are accessing 30 hours of free childcare with multiple providers at a national level but this will be captured in the 2018 census.However, our recently published independent evaluation of the early delivery programme shows parents are prepared to use multiple providers, with around 18% of children using multiple providers in three of the four early rollout areas. In early implementation, the report found that around one in five children used two providers for the free entitlement hours but the use of three or more providers was rare.The full reports are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-rollout-of-30-hours-free-childcare-evaluation.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-implementation-evaluation.

Apprentices: Finance

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the revenue raised by the Apprenticeship Levy will be allocated to fund apprenticeships with non-levy employers.

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the total money raised by the Apprenticeship Levy will be allocated to levy-paying companies for their own apprenticeship training schemes.

Anne Milton: Spending by levy-paying employers and non-levy paying employers on apprenticeship training and assessment depends on demand for, and cost of, apprenticeships that employers themselves choose. In England, employers who pay the levy can use funds in their apprenticeship service accounts to pay for training and assessment. Funds enter employers’ accounts every month based on the amount of Apprenticeship Levy declared, the proportion of their pay to employees living in England and a 10% top-up applied from Government. For non-levy paying employers, government funding is awarded to training providers under contract. We launched a procurement at the end of July which closed in early September. Through this procurement exercise, the Education and Skills Funding Agency will make available at least £440m of funding over 15 months for new apprenticeship starts from 1 January 2018. By 2019-20 funding available for apprenticeships in England will be £2.45 billion; double what was spent in 2010-11.

Apprentices: Finance

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment she has made of registered training providers in receipt of (a) less, (b) the same, (c) more funding in real terms per apprenticeship start in the period (i) May to December 2017 and (ii) August 2016 to April 2017.

Anne Milton: We have not undertaken an assessment of this type. We continue to monitor closely the impact of the apprenticeship funding reforms introduced in May 2017 on employers and providers.

Apprentices: Finance

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's budget is for apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year olds in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19; and what proportion of that budget is generated by the Apprenticeship Levy.

Anne Milton: Our intended funding for apprenticeships was published in the skills funding letter in March 2017 – https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/599089/SFA_Letter_2017-18_final.pdf. This includes a breakdown of intended funding for 16-18 year olds. Actual spend will depend on the demand and cost of apprenticeships that employers choose. Since 1 April 2017, apprenticeships are funded entirely from the Apprenticeship Levy.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Children and Families of 12 October 2017, Official Report, column 210WH, how many times a validation code has been generated on the basis of a job offer.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Education does not hold information relating to the number of people that are eligible for 30 hours free childcare based on a job offer. On the 17 July 2017, the Department for Education published an evaluation of the eight local authority areas that took part in the early innovators programme for 30 hours free childcare.In the Early Implementer areas, almost a quarter (23%) of mothers and almost one in ten (9%) fathers increased their work hours as a result of the extended childcare offer. This effect was notably stronger for families with relatively lower incomes. The full evaluation can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-implementation-evaluation.

Apprentices: Finance

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a list of the funding allocated to each training provider for apprenticeship starts for the periods (a) August 2016 to April 2017 and (b) May to December 2017.

Anne Milton: The Education and Skills Fuding Agency publish allocations annually and update them throughout the year. Allocations for the 2016 to 2017 funding year can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2016-to-2017. Non-levy apprenticeship allocations for May to December 2017 will be published in November 2017.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she had made of the number of children in each local authority in Greater Manchester who will benefit from the Government's policy of 30 hours of free childcare.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The national rollout of 30 hours’ free childcare marks the delivery of a manifesto commitment that will help hundreds of thousands of hard working families. The childcare service online application has been working well for the vast majority of parents and over 216,384 valid 30 hours’ codes have been generated by successful applications, reaching our target for 1 September.It is the responsibility of local authorities to assess supply and demand of free entitlement places at a local level.

Teachers: Training

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she intends to take to address the shortage of applications for secondary teacher training places in subjects not expected to reach the targets set by the teacher supply model for September 2017.

Nick Gibb: The number of teachers is at an all-time high: there are now 457,300 full time equivalent teachers, up 15,500 from 2010. The number of new teachers entering our classrooms continues to outnumber those who retire or leave, and the number of teachers returning to the profession is 8% higher than in 2011. We are continuing to offer generous bursaries to recruit the best graduates into the profession. From 2018 we are increasing funding across all high priority subjects. Our prestigious scholarship scheme will also continue, offering a package of tailored support and up to £28,000 tax-free for scholars in six subjects. We are also introducing a new style bursary for maths teachers with early retention payments. In addition, teachers will benefit from the newly announced rise in the student loan repayment threshold and we will be piloting a new student loan reimbursement programme for science and Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teachers in the early years of their career, targeted in the areas of the country that need them most. We have also recently announced a £30 million investment in tailored support for schools that struggle most with recruitment and retention.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools are currently meeting the Gatsby benchmarks of good practice in careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Anne Milton: The Careers & Enterprise Company recently published its ‘State of the Nation 2017’ research paper. The paper, which was published in conjunction with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, showed that 51% of schools that undertook self-evaluation through the Compass programme met two or more Gatsby benchmarks. Over 79% of schools met one or more benchmark. In total, 578 secondary schools took part in the self-assessment exercise.The Compass self-assessment tool was established by The Careers & Enterprise Company and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, to enable schools to measure themselves against the Gatsby benchmarks.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many registered (a) childminders, (b) nurseries and (c) maintained nurseries rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted have closed in each of the last six months.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Ofsted is the non-ministerial government department responsible for the regulation of early education and childcare providers. They publish a regular series of statistics relating to early years’ providers, which can be viewed from this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted/about/statistics.I have informed Ofsted of this question and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector will be writing to the hon. Member for Batley and Spen in response. A copy of that letter will be placed in the libraries of the House.

National Careers Service

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to continue the National Careers Service Prime Contractor Area Groups from 1 April 2018.

Anne Milton: The Department has agreed to extend the National Careers Service contracts for six months starting from 1 April 2018 and contractors have been notified of this.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeship starts there were in May to July 2017 for each industry sector.

Anne Milton: The table below provides provisional apprenticeship starts figures by sector subject area for May to July 2017. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, whilst ‘-‘ indicates a value of less than 5.  Sector Subject Area Tier 1Provisional 2016/17  May-JulyAgriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care740Arts, Media and Publishing80Business, Administration and Law13,360Construction, Planning and the Built Environment1,030Education and Training440Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies5,130Health, Public Services and Care8,670Information and Communication Technology3,040Languages, Literature and Culture-Leisure, Travel and Tourism1,250Preparation for Life and Work-Retail and Commercial Enterprise9,800Science and Mathematics10Unknown-Total43,560 Annual breakdowns of apprenticeship starts by sector subject area between the 2011/12 and 2016/17 (provisional) academic years are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650226/201617_Oct_Apps_Level_SSA_And_Framework_Data_Tool_FINAL.xlsx.

Pre-school Education: Staff

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to achieve the objectives on broadening the early years workforce set out in the Early Years Workforce Strategy.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Early Years Workforce Strategy published in March 2017, sets out the actions we will take to support the early years’ sector to attract, retain and develop the early years workforce. We have now broadened the English and mathematics requirement for level 3 Early Years Educators, including for apprenticeships, to level 2 qualifications including Functional Skills (rather than a specific requirement for a GCSE qualification), to support recruitment and retention of staff. This was implemented in April 2017.We will provide further updates on the Early Years Workforce Strategy in due course.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to monitor the level of additional charges placed on parents by childcare providers accessing government-funded free childcare.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Government funding is intended to deliver 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services. So providers can, and should feel free to, charge parents for meals, consumables (such as nappies and sun cream) and for additional activities (such as trips). Where a parent chooses to pay for these it is a private matter between the provider and the parent. But parents must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a free entitlement place, and must be offered alternative options.Our guidance is clear that local authorities are responsible for ensuring that all eligible children can take up their place free of charge and that providers’ charging policies enable this. It is therefore the duty of the local authority to ensure that providers are not charging parents inappropriately.The Department is currently procuring an independent evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the first two terms of national rollout of 30 hours in 10-20 local authorities across England which will include qualitative research to understand charging practices.

Ministry of Justice

Juries: Hearing Impaired

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on how to facilitate jury service by people who are registered as deaf.

Dominic Raab: There have been no discussions between Ministers in the Ministry of Justice and the Minister for Women and Equalities on the issue of deaf jurors.

Probation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of recent HM Inspectorate of Probation reports which indicate that workloads in both the National Probation Service and community rehabilitation companies are dangerously high.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The great majority of Quality & Impact Reports by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation have commented favourably on the performance of the National Probation Service (NPS). We recognise that staff shortages in certain parts of the country have resulted in high caseloads in those areas. The NPS is addressing this via a major recruitment campaign and is on target to recruit around 500 additional trainee probation officers, and over 1000 probation service officers in 2017-18. Contracts with Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) require each that each CRC ensures that it employs a sufficient level of staff, and that its workforce is competent and adequately trained. We closely monitor and robustly manage providers to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to reduce reoffending, protect the public and provide value for money to the taxpayer.

European Protection Orders

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many UK citizens were protected by the European Protection Order when residing in or visiting another EU member state in each year since 2015.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many EU citizens from non-UK EU states were protected by the European Protection Order when residing in or visiting the UK in each year since 2015.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many European Protection Orders were granted by British courts in each year since 2015.

Dominic Raab: The table below shows the numbers of “European Protection Orders” made in England and Wales pursuant to Directive 2011/999/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the European Protection Order. Criminal justice is devolved so data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not included. The citizenship status of the protected person is not collected separately so is not shown, but the table does show the number of orders made in the courts of England and Wales and transmitted to other Member States and also the number received in England and Wales from other Member States. Calendar YearIssued by England & Wales and accepted by another Member StateReceived and accepted by England & Wales from another Member StateTotal201501120162022017 – to date011

Family Proceedings

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for the publication of the Government's Green Paper on family justice.

Dominic Raab: I am clear that we need to look across the entire family justice system to make sure it is delivering the best outcomes for children and families, and protecting its most vulnerable users. We are working to consider what further changes are needed and will bring forward our proposals in due course.

Probation: Meetings

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders currently meet their probation officer in a public space such as a library, café or restaurant due to a lack of appropriate space in probation offices.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Information on meeting venues is not collected centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. In any case where a venue outside the probation estate is being considered, the offender manager is required to make an assessment, to determine whether the venue is appropriate.

Probation: Meetings

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the criticism of the use of booths in probation work contained in the HM Inspectorate of Probation report, The effectiveness of probation work in Cumbria, published in October 2017.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the settings used by community rehabilitation companies to meet service users; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on public safety of the use of booths by probation services; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: In her report, the Chief Inspector of Probation found that the work of probation services in Cumbria was good, with exceptional practice at the CRC, and that the work of the CRC was the best they had seen since the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms. We recognise that it is important that offenders and probation staff can meet in an environment appropriate for their specific needs, and that public safety also forms part of those considerations. I expect the CRC to take note of, and act on the Chief Inspector’s recommendations. Our contract management teams will continue to monitor and robustly manage providers closely to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending, protect the public and provide value for money to the taxpayer.

Probation: Gloucestershire

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department plans to take to address the problems identified in HM Inspectorate of Probation's report on Gloucestershire with service delivery  carried out by working links.

Mr Sam Gyimah: There is a contractual mechanism for dealing with recommendations made in HM Inspectorate of Probation reports and, as a result, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are required to prepare action plans to address the issues raised. Contract Management Teams give high priority to ensuring that those plans are followed through, and ensure that those actions are successful in addressing the points raised. Public protection is our top priority and we will take all necessary action to make sure the probation system is reducing reoffending and preventing future victims. We have fundamentally reformed probation so that for the first time ever all offenders given a custodial sentence receive probation support on release. We continue to work with the CRCs to ensure they deliver services that have the correct levels of supervision and support for offenders.

Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Violence

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many legal aid applications for civil cases of domestic violence have been made in each of the last six years.

Dominic Raab: This information is published on a quarterly basis as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s National Statistics, the most recent of which (covering the most recent six complete financial years) are reproduced below: Financial YearApplications in the ‘Domestic Violence’ category2011-1217,6522012-1317,4052013-1416,9252014-1515,6652015-1614,7542016-1714,136

Ministry of Defence

USA: Counter-terrorism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received information obtained by the US Administration by means of provisions within the USA Patriot Act of 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Michael Fallon: I am not aware of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) having obtained information specifically under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act. However, the UK Government, including the MOD, receives a broad range of classified information from the United States under existing bilateral and multilateral information-sharing arrangements.

Yemen: Counter-terrorism

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many suspected terrorists the Government has targeted in Yemen (a) on its own and (b) with the US since January 2017.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions the Government has authorised the use of (a) UK personnel, (b) UK assets, including RAF bases located in the UK and (c) UK intelligence in support of US counter-terror operations in Yemen.

Mark Lancaster: The UK is not involved in counter-terror operations in Yemen. It is a long-standing policy of the Ministry of Defence not to comment on intelligence matters.

USA: Counter-terrorism

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance is provided to UK personnel in support of US counter-terror actions outside of war zones.

Mark Lancaster: Any military support would only be provided to another State in accordance with our legal obligations and UK policy. UK military personnel providing such support would be appropriately briefed on those obligations and a military legal adviser would be available to advise.

Gulf War Syndrome

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to invest in research on rehabilitation, health and social care models to improve the quality of life for Gulf War veterans who are experiencing ill health.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr Lancaster) on 21 January 2016 to Question 22264 to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-01-13/22264/



22264 - WQnA extract on Gulf War Syndrome
(Word Document, 12.8 KB)

North Korea: Nuclear Weapons

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is providing to the US in its response to the threat posed by North Korea.

Sir Michael Fallon: In line with long standing commitments and ongoing defence engagement, the UK provides a small number of staff officers to United Nations Command in Korea and other headquarters across the Asia Pacific region.The UK as a Sending State is committed to upholding peace and maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula. We will continue to work with our international partners to exert political and economic pressure on North Korea to change its direction and open the way to peaceful resolution.

Law of War

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions since August 2015 the Government has authorised the use of lethal force in a non-military context under the legal basis of self-defence.

Mark Lancaster: The Government has not authorised the use of lethal force by UK Armed Forces under the legal basis of self-defence of the UK in the time period specified.

Armed Forces

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people currently serving in the armed forces were born (a) in other EU countries and (b) outside the EU; and in which countries those armed forces personnel were born.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The requested information is provided below: Country of BirthNumbers of Regular Armed Forces personnel as at 1 April 2017Egypt10Ethiopia10Israel10Somalia10Turkey10Venezuela - Bolivarian Republic of10Yemen10Ecuador10Afghanistan10British Indian Ocean Territory10Montserrat10Bahamas10Papua New Guinea10Rwanda10Tonga10Iran - Islamic Republic of10Jersey10Barbados10Indonesia10Kuwait10Oman10Namibia10Russian Federation10Brazil10Swaziland10Colombia10Bermuda20Seychelles20Switzerland20Norway20Bahrain20Japan20Tanzania - United Republic of20Sri Lanka20China20Saint Helena - Ascension and Tristan da Cunha30Botswana30Guyana30Dominica30Ukraine30Malaysia40Saudi Arabia40Sierra Leone40United Arab Emirates40Pakistan40Thailand50Bangladesh50Belize50Brunei Darussalam50Philippines50Mauritius60Zambia80Uganda90Trinidad and Tobago90Singapore100Gibraltar120New Zealand130Cameroon130Grenada140Canada150United States170Malawi200Australia210Gambia220Saint Lucia230India240Nigeria250Kenya270Cyprus300Saint Vincent and the Grenadines440Zimbabwe470Jamaica470Hong Kong610Ghana800South Africa1,160Nepal1,320Fiji1,550  Other150Total11,120Note: numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and countries with less than five personnel have been aggregated into an ‘other’ category in accordance with disclosure control and rounding policy.

USA: Military Aid

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions since August 2015 the UK has provided (a) intelligence, (b) communications, (c) material and (d) other assistance to the US in its use of lethal force under the legal basis of self-defence.

Sir Michael Fallon: We do not routinely comment on other nations' operations or on any intelligence matters.

Cyprus: Military Bases

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to step the trapping and killing of song birds on his Department's land in Cyprus.

Mark Lancaster: Tackling illegal trapping of migratory birds is one of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration's top priorities, with the level of trapping, and plans to counter it, constantly under review.Bird trapping is a widespread issue across Cyprus and is not confined to the SBAs. The SBA Administration is working hard to counter illegal trapping, last year prosecuting 78 people for trapping and poaching offences, with the SBA Police conducting 39 major clearance operations. This resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 mist-nets and 450 limesticks.Since 2014, the SBA Administration has cleared approximately 61 acres of invasive non-native acacia planted by bird trappers to attract birds and has begun a programme to remove irrigation piping, which promotes growth of invasive acacia.

NSA/CSS Georgia: Staff

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK personnel were embedded in the National Security Agency Cryptologic Centre in Georgia USA, in each month between 1 October 2016 and 1 October 2017.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence places personnel in a wide variety of roles in the United States in order to further cooperation with our most important ally on defence matters. I am witholding information on specific roles or postings as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date his Department plans to publish its response to the Better Compensation consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The Government’s ‘Better Combat Consultation’ public consultation ran from 1 December 2016 to 23 February of this year. The Government is considering the views expressed during the consultation carefully and will publish a response in due course.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department does not record the postcode of new recruits to HM Armed Forces.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence does not analyse the locations where recruits to the UK Armed Forces have been recruited from.As part of the recruitment process an individual can declare more than one postcode e.g. 'home', 'work' or 'other'.Any declared 'home' location may not reflect where that person is from.

HMS Duncan

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the ambassadorial use of HMS Duncan by Belfast City Council or Invest NI.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: There have been no discussions in relation to the ambassadorial use of HMS DUNCAN by Belfast City Council or Invest Northern Ireland.

Defence and Aerospace Industry: North West

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on defence and aerospace manufacturing capability in the North West of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence is working closely with the defence industry and other Government Departments to understand the implications and opportunities presented by the UK's departure from the European Union.The European defence sector is already closely integrated; leading companies have a presence right across Europe, and across the UK, including the North West. It is worth noting that current major European collaborative capability projects, such as the Typhoon programme, are managed bilaterally or with groups of partners, rather than through the EU.Through our future partnership with the European Union, we want to explore how best to ensure that our industries can continue working together to deliver the capabilities that we need to protect the UK and its allies and partners.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9283, on universal credit: self employed, what assessment he has made of the (a) effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the creative sector, (b) number of self-employed universal credit claimants and (c) financial saving achieved by the application of the minimum income floor.

Damian Hinds: Holding answer received on 12 October 2017



No sector is treated more or less favourably than another and all claimants have the same rights and obligations. We have not yet assessed the effects of roll-out but, as part of UC’s test and learn approach, work is planned to make data available on the number of self-employed claimants and the impact of the minimum income floor.

Local Housing Allowance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of whether the local housing allowance rates are keeping pace with increasing rents in the private sector.

Caroline Dinenage: Local Housing Allowance rates are monitored against the 30th percentile of local rents which are collected by the Rent Services in England, Scotland and Wales. The Rent Services publish the 30th percentile data and the Local Housing Allowance rates each year on their respective websites.

Universal Credit: Payments

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure prompt and accurate payments of universal credit for people being transferred to that benefit in the run-up to Christmas.

Damian Hinds: To ensure people have money over the festive period the Department plans to pay in advance of the due date the people that could be affected by bank holidays. This includes the careful assessment of technical system and banking system availability to ensure successful payments can be made. This year we have enhanced the functionality and added a faster payment contingency function in Universal Credit.

Wheels to Work Schemes: Rural Areas

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support his Department has provided to Wheels to Work schemes in rural areas, including Cornwall in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: DWP has provided £360 in support to Wheels to Work Schemes in the last 5 years, the payments were made during 2012/13. These were made specifically in Helston, Bodmin and Liskeard Job Centres.

Universal Credit: Telephone Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department accrues any income from the universal credit helpline.

Damian Hinds: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2017 to question 107197

Work Capability Assessment: Exemptions

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which disabilities and health conditions are now exempt from work capability re-assessments for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) universal credit.

Penny Mordaunt: Rather than setting out a list of specific medical conditions, the criteria for stopping routine assessments in Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit is based on a set of functional descriptors to determine how an illness or disability affects an individual’s ability to work.

Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time of a call was to 0345 telephone numbers by his Department.

Caroline Dinenage: Within the last 12 months, the average length of time for a telephone call to the Department for Work and Pensions’ 0345 telephone lines was 11 minutes 29 seconds.

Social Security Benefits: Debts

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to assist households facing debt as a result of benefit sanctions.

Damian Hinds: Sanctions are only used in a minority of cases when people fail to meet each of their requirements that they agreed in their Claimant Commitment without good reason. We have a well-established system of hardship payments, available as a safeguard if a claimant demonstrates that they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs, including accommodation, heating, food and hygiene, as a result of their sanction.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK EU citizens are in receipt of each of his Department's benefit to which they are entitled.

Damian Hinds: The nationality and immigration status of claimants is not currently recorded on benefit payment systems. However the Department for Work and Pensions has published statistics on working age benefit recipients by nationality at point of National Insurance Number (NINo) registration. This is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nationality-at-point-of-nino-registration-of-dwp-working-age-benefit-recipients-data-to-feb-2017https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/analysis-of-migrants-access-to-income-related-benefits

Local Housing Allowance

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of unfreezing local housing allowance.

Caroline Dinenage: There are no plans to lift the four year Local Housing Allowance (LHA) freeze before April 2020. The Government recognises however that the impact of this measure varies across the country, especially in areas of high rental growth and therefore recycles 30 per cent of the savings from the LHA Freeze to create Targeted Affordability funding. This funding is used to increase LHA rates in areas where local rents have diverged the most. For example in 2017/18 48 LHA rates have been increased by 3 per cent. Further Targeted Affordability Funding will be made available in 2018/19 and 2019/20. In addition since 2011, the Government has provided around £900 million in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities (LAs) to protect vulnerable claimants and support households affected by different welfare reforms including the freeze to LHA rates.

Department for Work and Pensions: Correspondence

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to reduce the number of working days it takes his Department to respond to hon. Members' enquiries.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has a 15 working day target for a Director General to respond to an MP. These timescales are in line with Cabinet Office directives.

Employment and Support Allowance: County Durham

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decision-makers considering employment and support allowance claims are employed in County Durham.

Caroline Dinenage: The number of decision-makers considering Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims employed in County Durham (at Stockton-on-Tees Benefit Centre) as at August 2017 is 53.62 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff.

Universal Credit: Telephone Services

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 12 October 2017 to the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 469, if he will remove the charge for telephone calls to his Department on universal credit.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of February 2016 to Question 25760, what advice he gives to applicants needing to make a telephone call to discuss their Universal Credit claim but not able to afford to use his Department's helpline.

Damian Hinds: As announced by the Secretary of State at the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 18 October 2017, DWP plans to change the Universal Credit helpline to a freephone number over the next month.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what budget has been assigned to the dedicated team to address complaints by women adversely affected by an increase in the state pension age.

Caroline Dinenage: The Independent Case Examiner’s Office has not been assigned a budget to deal with the complaints from woman affected by the increase in state pension age.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent staff work in the dedicated team to address complaints by women adversely affected by an increase in the state pension age.

Caroline Dinenage: The Independent Case Examiner’s Office has a dedicated team of three full time equivalent staff investigating complaints from women affected by the increase in state pension age.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Helen Whately: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) non-UK EU and (b) other seasonal agricultural workers who have come to the UK in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: Until 2016, Defra published data on the estimated number of seasonal agricultural workers in all UK countries in “Agriculture in the UK”, which is a Defra publication. Since 2016, data is published for England only, collected by the June Horticulture and Agriculture Survey. Data from the past 5 years is shown in the table below. Defra does not collect data on the nationality of those workers. Seasonal, casual & gang labour20122013201420152016UK numbers67 00061 00066 00067 000N/AEngland-only numbers44 985 39 20343 03644 93943 894

European Chemicals Agency

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the number of staff required to replicate the relevant functions of the European Chemicals Agency after the UK leaves the EU.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to replicate the relevant functions of the European Chemicals Agency after the UK leaves the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The resourcing of EU Exit work is one of the key priorities of the Department and will be subject to on-going assessment. The resources we need in the future will be dependent on the policy choices we make for the regulation of chemicals when we leave the EU. The department is working across Government and with industry to assess the potential effect to businesses of the UK no longer having access to the services provided by the European Chemicals Agency. This work is on-going and will help inform our negotiating position. Our priority is to maintain an effective regulatory system for the management and control of chemicals to safeguard human health and the environment, respond to emerging risks and allow trade with the EU that is as frictionless as possible.

Flood Control: Greenwich

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Education Skills Funding Agency contacted his Department to discuss the cost and suitability of relocating flood defences on the Bowring Sports Ground before December 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had on relocating flood defences to make way for a free school on the Bowring Sports Ground; to who the cost of that work will fall; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of flooding to properties adjacent to the Quaggy River as a consequence of relocating the flood defences on the Bowring Sports Ground site to make way for a free school; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding has been approved for the relocation of flood barriers on the Bowring Sports Ground to make way for a free school; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency has no record of any contact from the Education Skills Funding Agency prior to December 2015. The Environment Agency was contacted by the Education Skills Funding Agency in December 2015 regarding the potential purchase of land in Bowring Sports Ground to build a new school on the site. The Environment Agency met the Education Skills Funding Agency in March 2016 to discuss their proposals and to provide planning advice. No change to the flood defences was proposed at that time. The proposal to relocate flood defences on the Bowring Sports Ground site was first put forward in June 2017 by Robert West Architects and discussions with them are ongoing. The Environment Agency requires developers to demonstrate that their proposals do not increase flood risk. The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee in the planning process. The Environment Agency will not support any application which does not include an adequate flood risk assessment. The Environment Agency will assess detailed proposals and a flood risk assessment in relation to this application, once provided by Robert West Architects. The developer will be liable for the costs of any modification to the flood defences.

Agriculture: Animal Welfare and Antibiotics

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the (a) use of cage systems for farm animals and (b) routine preventative use of antibiotics in farms.

George Eustice: There are no plans to change the current legislation on colony cages for laying hens. However, we are preparing a new statutory laying hen code which will provide up to date guidance on how to comply with the legislation. We have made it very clear that we do not support the routine preventative use of antibiotics, or the use of antibiotics to compensate for poor animal husbandry. This is reflected in the revised “Responsible use of animal medicines on the farm” guidelines published in December 2014. We continue to work with the UK veterinary profession and livestock industry to:develop and agree sector-specific reduction targets for antibiotic use;support the development of prescribing and responsible use guidelines to encourage the adoption of best practice.

National Institute of Agricultural Botany

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations his Department has received on support for the National Institute of Agricultural Botany after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agriculture. We are working towards achieving the best possible deal for the UK agricultural industry and we want to ensure a deep and lasting agreement with the European Union. I met NIAB EMR, part of the NIAB group, in July of this year and Defra has received a number of representations concerning NIAB and the impact of leaving the EU, from breeders’ organisations and from Members of Parliament.

Tree Planting: Urban Areas

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the planting of extra trees in towns and cities; and what provision he plans to make for additional local authority tree offices and other funding to manage those trees.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is committed to planting one million trees in our towns and cities by 2022, reflecting our recognition of the important benefits they bring to the places where people live, work, and visit. In addition, we are giving millions of schoolchildren across England, mostly in urban areas, the chance to plant trees in their schools and communities as part of a Government-backed scheme, in partnership with the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust.

Plastics

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the use of plastic in (a) retail packaging and (b) food outlets.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson), on 13 September 2017, PQ UIN 8711.

Packaging

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastics and other packaging in the UK.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Our policies and regulations - such as the Packaging Waste Regulations - are designed to increase recycling and reduce the amount of packaging that ends up in the natural environment. In September 2016, the Waste and Resources Action Programme and an industry advisory group published a framework for greater consistency, encouraging councils to recycle a common set of materials, as well as setting out actions to rationalise packaging, particularly plastics, into items that can be collected for recycling while supporting innovation in packaging design. Almost all packaging is technically recyclable, although some local authorities and waste management companies choose not to collect some types of packaging for recycling for various reasons, including cost of investing in new machinery which can sort this packaging.

Timber: EU Law

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his policy to maintain the contents of the EU Timber Regulation after it is transposed into UK law.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will include provisions to ensure existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law, including the EU Timber Regulation. This will ensure that, wherever possible, the same rules and laws will apply the day after exit as they did before.

Fisheries

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment on the benefits for Great Britain and Northern Ireland's coastal communities of the marine resources in the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone being used solely for the benefit of the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: On leaving the EU, the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for controlling and managing our Exclusive Economic Zone. This will provide an opportunity to negotiate new agreements on access and quota arrangements which will benefit our coastal communities. We are undertaking ongoing analysis on fish stocks in our waters.

Common Fisheries Policy

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the entirety of the Fisheries acquis will be transferred into domestic legislation in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.

George Eustice: The purpose of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is to provide stability and certainty so that wherever practical, the same laws and rules will apply immediately before and immediately after our departure. On that basis, most of the fisheries acquis will be transferred into domestic legislation. The Queen’s Speech, however, set out the Government’s plans for a fisheries bill for the UK to control access to its waters and set fishing opportunities when we leave the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy. Provisions in the Fisheries Bill would supersede the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing Estates: Regeneration

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of social and affordable housing units created by the redevelopment of local authority housing estates in each of the last five years.

Alok Sharma: The Government's Estate Regeneration National Strategy, published in December 2016, emphasises the key leadership role of local authorities in assessing and delivering the amount of social and affordable housing appropriate to meet the needs of their area. The National Strategy also sets out Government's expectations for how authorities should engage with residents throughout an estate regeneration scheme, and how residents should be protected. The Government's expectation is that all existing council and housing association tenants, whether on a lifetime or fixed tenancy, should have the option to return to the estate.More than twice as much council housing has been built since 2010 than in the previous 13 years. 10,460 local authority dwellings were built between 2010-11 and 2016-17, up from 2,920 delivered over the previous 13 years (1997-98 to 2009-10). The Government recently announced plans to deliver more affordable homes, including at a social rent, by investing £2 billion in additional funding for housing associations and local councils in England. This will increase the Government’s 2016-21 Affordable Homes Programme in England to more than £9 billion.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2017 to Question 6312, on carbon emissions, whether his review of the minimum energy performance requirements in the building regulations for new homes will be complete before the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 11 October 2017



The Government has commissioned an independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety, being led by Dame Judith Hackitt. The review will report in Spring 2018. Any future changes to Building Regulations will need to be considered following the outcome of the independent review, and subject to its conclusions. This will of course consider the Clean Growth Strategy, which was published on 12 October 2017.

Affordable Housing and Shared Ownership Schemes

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much earmarked for the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme has been spent since the scheme was announced in the Spending Review 2015.

Alok Sharma: The Government launched the Affordable Homes Programme 2016-21 in April 2016. Initial allocations made by the Homes and Communities Agencies under the Programme can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/affordable-homes-programme-2016-to-2021-successful-biddersThe Programme is delivered by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London. The GLA launched the Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2016-21 in November 2016. Initial allocations made by the GLA can be found at: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/record-17bn-deal-for-new-homes

Department for Communities and Local Government: Iron and Steel

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9980, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress his Department has made on delivering greater UK steel content in line with the public procurement guidelines published by the Government in April 2016.

Mr Marcus Jones: Our procurement activities for all projects does and will follow government guidance to ensure we take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Government did not hold a public consultation on the proposal to locate the Holocaust Memorial and Holocaust Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens before making its decision.

Mr Marcus Jones: The independent Holocaust Commission received 2500 responses to its public consultation. Following feedback from this consultation, the Commission recommended that the UK should have a new Memorial in a prominent central London location. Victoria Tower Gardens was identified through an extensive search, which considered a range of central London locations. The park is owned by the government and leased to Royal Parks. The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, a cross party Advisory Board’s view was that Victoria Tower Gardens met the aims of the Commission and recommended it to government. The government accepted this recommendation.Of course, the local planning authority will undertake a formal period of public consultation prior to deciding a planning application (as is their obligation under Article 15 of the Development Management Procedure Order 2015). We will continue to consult residents throughout the process of design refinement.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government obtained advice on the security implications for the Palace of Westminster before deciding to locate the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens.

Mr Marcus Jones: We are fully aware of the security implications associated with the environs of the Palace of Westminster and are in regular contact with representatives of Parliamentary Security, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), the Metropolitan Police Service and other assets within the World Heritage site. By considering the security needs at the earliest stage of design we aim to integrate them into the design of the memorial and external landscaping as unobtrusively as possible. CPNI and our security consultants have advised us on the necessary considerations for security at the Memorial and are advising us on the physical and operational security measures required to mitigate the specific risks of a memorial and learning centre in the proposed location of Victoria Tower Gardens.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations the Government has received from the Royal Parks agency's (a) Board and (b) officials on the plan to site the Holocaust Memorial and Holocaust Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens.

Mr Marcus Jones: Discussions have taken place with The Royal Parks at Board level and official level. The Royal Parks were consulted on the site for the Memorial and Learning Centre, and they played a formal role in providing detailed input to the competition process assessing the design proposals. The Royal Parks have been – and remain – supportive of the decision to site the Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens, but have expressed concerns about the co-located Learning Centre. DCLG will continue to work closely with The Royal Parks to refine the winning design to ensure that we deliver both a fitting Memorial and Learning Centre and protect the park as a public amenity.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Government has had with Westminster City Council on the proposal to locate the Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens (a) before the site was announced and (b) subsequently; and on what dates those discussions were held.

Mr Marcus Jones: Westminster City Council was first engaged in the early stages of this project, when the Holocaust Commission began exploring potential sites in 2014. In January 2016, Westminster City Council was first informed of the proposal to locate the Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens. DCLG subsequently met planners in July 2016 to seek advice on the design competition’s planning brief; met a number of councillors in September 2016 to inform them about the launch of the design competition; and met the Council’s planners in March 2017 to seek advice on potential planning issues for the proposed development.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment the Government has made of the compatibility of the planned Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens with the Royal Parks' memorials policy.

Mr Marcus Jones: Memorials to mark events or individuals of significant national/international importance have long been accommodated within The Royal Parks estate. The Royal Parks has acknowledged that Victoria Tower Gardens would be a fitting location for a memorial to victims of the Holocaust subject to design, planning and environmental requirements. It meets longstanding policy and there are already existing memorials in the park, including one to Emmeline Pankhurst and another marking the abolition of the slave trade.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will list the local authorities that have made a request for financial assistance for fire safety work in tower blocks; how much such assistance has been requested in each case; whether that has been for grant, loan or extra borrowing approval; and whether the Government has agreed to any additional grant, loan or borrowing approval.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 16 October 2017



I can confirm that 32 local authorities have been in touch with DCLG regarding work to ensure fire safety in tower blocks. We have been clear that building owners are responsible for funding fire safety measures, but councils should contact us if they have any concerns about funding fire safety works. Government will consider financial flexibilities for local authorities who need to undertake essential fire safety work to make a building safeIt is a matter for local authorities to communicate with their residents what work is being proposed and as such I cannot provide details about specific local authorities.

Housing: Solar Power

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will change building regulations to ensure that all new buildings are constructed with solar panels.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 17 October 2017



There are no plans to change the Building Regulations to ensure that all new buildings are constructed with solar panels. Building Regulations are deliberately couched in performance terms and mandating a particular technology, such as solar panels, may not be appropriate for all new buildings in all areas.The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy sets out that following the outcome of the independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety, and subject to its conclusions, it intends to consult on strengthening energy requirements in building regulations where there are cost-effective and affordable opportunities, and it is safe and practical to do so.

High Rise Flats

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) high-rise residential buildings over 30 metres in England and (b) flats in those buildings.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Supported Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish a supported housing green paper.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reductions in social care funding on the delayed transfer of care.

Mr Marcus Jones: Earlier this year, the Government gave councils access to £9.25 billion more dedicated funding for adult social care over the next three years. This includes an additional £2 billion of funding in England, as announced at the Spring Budget 2017. One of the three purposes of this funding was to reduce pressures on the NHS, including supporting more people to be discharged from hospital when they are ready and we know local authorities are putting resources into this. However, performance is not just about money, and considerable variation remains across the country. We will be monitoring the position carefully on delayed transfers of care in the run up to winter.

Right to Buy Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made on the roll-out of voluntary right to buy.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mayors: Sheffield City Region

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Sheffield City Region mayoral election.

Jake Berry: Should Sheffield City Region Combined Authorities proceed to elect a Mayor with full powers, that newly elected Mayor would benefit from a range of powers devolved from central government, as well as new funding, including:£30 million a year for 30 years to invest in local strategic priorities;Responsibility over the region’s transport budget;Strategic planning;Skills fundingThe associated cost of an election was made clear to Leaders throughout the process. We have estimated that the cost of the May 2018 mayoral election to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and its four constituent councils, including costs of the election booklet containing candidate information (which is required to be distributed to each elector), is likely to be in the range £1.5 million to £2 million.An election of a mayor without powers is certainly not without benefits for Sheffield City Region, they would be a significant public figure who would both be chair of the combined authority and could take their place as the voice of the region alongside the other city region mayors in the Northern Powerhouse and in other forums with government or stakeholders.

Private Rented Housing: Newham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to make a decision on the application from the London Borough of Newham to continue its private rented sector licensing scheme.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Private Rented Housing: Newham

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to make a decision on the London Borough of Newham's application to continue its private rented sector licensing scheme.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU Grants and Loans: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2017 to Question 105962, what the timetable is for the establishment of the Shared Property Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Jake Berry: The Government has committed to use European Structural Funds money that comes back to the UK following departure from the EU to create a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out a timetable for its development in due course.The guarantee announced by my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is also giving all parts of the UK funding certainty.

Wales Office

EU Grants and Loans: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has had with organisations and campaigners from Wales since June 2016 on European Structural Investment Funds after the UK leaves the EU.

Alun Cairns: My ministerial colleagues and I regularly meet with stakeholders across Wales, including discussing with representatives of business, the third sector and universities how funding for growth across the UK can best be designed and delivered after we leave the European Union. Since the referendum result in June 2016, the impact on Wales of the UK leaving the EU has been a standing agenda item.

Scotland Office

Food Banks: Scotland

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to visit a food bank in October 2017.

David Mundell: I currently have no plans to visit a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland in October 2017.

Department for Exiting the European Union

UK relations with EU

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the (a) economic, (b) diplomatic and (c) tariff conditions that would apply to relations between the UK and the EU as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: We will pursue a deep and special partnership with the EU taking in both economic and security cooperation. As a priority we will seek a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement that is of greater scope and ambition than any such existing agreement.As we have made clear in our future partnership paper, we believe the UK and EU should continue to consult each other on foreign and security policy issues and agree joint positions, so that we can speak out together and drive progress on areas in our mutual interest. As an example, we should look to coordinate action, and share information, on sanctions policy when needed in order to respond robustly to those who challenge the rules-based international order, as we have recently done effectively in the case of Russia and Iran. We are clear that we want the EU to succeed: a successful EU, with the UK as its closest partner, is in all of our shared interests.We want to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours, as well as to negotiate our own trade agreements around the world. We want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets – and to let European businesses do the same in the UK.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Secondment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 105822, on Department for Exiting the European Union: secondment, from which companies or organisations those 17 secondees have come.

Mr Steve Baker: Pursuant to the answer of the 16 October we can confirm that secondees working in the Department for Exiting the European Union between July 2016 and July 2017 came from the following organisations: Oliver WymanHouse of LordsHouse of CommonsUK Government InvestmentsFinancial Conduct AuthorityBank of EnglandRoyal MarinesBritish Standards InstitutionBoston Consultancy GroupBarclaysAccentureIndependent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Department for International Trade

Department for International Development: Travel

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to DIT Ministerial Quarterly Transparency Returns, published on 13 October 2017, on which international journeys undertaken by (a) him, (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Investment, (c) the Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion and (d) the Minister of State for Trade Policy were (i) economy, (ii) business, (iii) first and (iv) any other class were used.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bombardier: USA

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which members of the US Senate he has met to discuss the trade dispute between Boeing and Bombardier.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Trade Agreements

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government is able to guarantee that new trade deals with third-party countries at least match the value of trade lost by leaving the Customs Union.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Food: Advertising

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with broadcasters on restricting the marketing of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar to children before the 9pm watershed.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to strengthen existing regulations on the marketing of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar to children before the 9pm watershed.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on children's health of restricting the marketing of high in fat, salt or sugar foods before the 9pm watershed.

Matt Hancock: Current advertising restrictions in the UK on high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) products are among the toughest in the world. Strict new rules came into effect on 1 July banning the advertising of HFSS food or drink products in children’s media. These restrictions apply across all non-broadcast media including in print, cinema, online and in social media. In August we announced £5 million investment to fund a national institute for obesity research policy unit to provide a robust evidence base and deeper understanding of the causes of childhood obesity, including marketing to children and families. The unit’s findings will be fed into the department's future policy development and engagement.

Tourism

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group met over the last year.

John Glen: Tourism Industry Emergency Response (TIER) has been active through all the terror attacks over the past few months, including convening four meetings since the first attack in March.

Public Libraries: Closures

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2017 to Question 106052, when the complete figures for the numbers of library closures for the last 12 months will be available; and if she will publish the data her Department holds on the numbers of libraries in each constituency in each of the last 10 years.

John Glen: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport does not collect or publish data on the number of public library closures in each Parliamentary constituency. Data relating to public libraries is collected from local authorities by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy which makes available the data annually to subscribers.

S4C: Reviews

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the independent review of S4C announced on 7 August 2017, whether information on (a) the deadline for submitting evidence, (b) the questions on which the review is gathering evidence and (c) the contact to whom evidence should be submitted has been made publicly available online.

Matt Hancock: The scope of the review and the evidence sought is outlined in the terms of reference published on gov.uk. Key partners, stakeholders and parties interested in S4C have been invited to submit evidence for the chair to consider. The chair and review secretariat welcomes evidence from anyone with an interest in S4C.

Cultural Heritage: Security

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial assistance the Government has given to cultural and artistic venues to assist with extra security costs incurred as a result of recent terrorist attacks in London.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial assistance is available to cultural institutions which have incurred extra security costs resulting from recent acts of terrorism in London.

John Glen: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to PQ 106697.

Cultural Heritage: Finance

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on providing finance for the establishment of a Cultural Development Fund.

John Glen: The department is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Treasury regarding all new spending proposals.

Department of Health

Hospital Beds

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report from the King's Fund entitled NHS hospital bed numbers: past, present, future, published in September 2017.

Mr Philip Dunne: There has been a long-term reduction in the number of general and acute beds open overnight as hospitals are dealing with patients more efficiently. The National Health Service now performs more day cases, length of stay is decreasing and more people are treated in community settings. NHS England statistics show that the bed occupancy rate has remained between 84% and 89% (all beds) since 2000. Bed availability does fluctuate, but the NHS has practice and experience in managing capacity to cope with both routine and emergency care.

Electronic Cigarettes: Advertising

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the advertising ban on the use of e-cigarettes.

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether e-cigarettes can be promoted in public health campaigns under the Tobacco Products Directive.

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to exclude e-cigarettes from the Tobacco Products Directive ban on advertising when the UK leaves the EU.

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that public health campaigns are able to promote the use of e-cigarettes to aid smoking cessation.

Steve Brine: As announced in the England Tobacco Control Plan published 18 July 2017, the Department will monitor the impact of regulation and policy on e-cigarettes and novel tobacco products in England, including evidence on safety, uptake, health impact and effectiveness of these products as smoking cessation aids, to inform our actions on regulating their use. Public Health England will continue to provide the evidence annually on e-cigarettes and other novel nicotine delivery systems until the end of Parliament in 2022 and will include within quit smoking campaign messages about the relative safety of e-cigarettes compared to smoking. The Department has published guidance on Article 20(5) of the EU Tobacco Products Directive covering restrictions on advertising electronic cigarettes. That guidance states that “a public health campaign about relative risks of e-cigarettes versus tobacco products by Public Health England or local stop smoking services are not advertisements made in the course of a business and therefore not covered by these restrictions”. The guidance is published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposals-for-uk-law-on-the-advertising-of-e-cigarettes/publishing-20-may-not-yet-completeThe Government will review where the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union offers opportunities to re-appraise current regulation to ensure this continues to protect the nation’s health.The Government also has a statutory duty to conduct an implementation review of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 by the end of May 2021 to assess its impact.

Atrial Fibrillation

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) receive therapy to prevent AF-related stroke.

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the NICE consultation on CG180 Atrial Fibrillation: management (2014).

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GPs not providing anticoagulation therapy to all suitable people with atrial fibrillation; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: In September 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the surveillance review decision report for the current atrial fibrillation guideline. The review confirmed that NICE would undertake a partial update of the guideline on atrial fibrillation. We understand that NICE intends to commission the update in early 2018, and that, once commissioned, NICE will have a better idea of the timescale, including a start date, for the update. There will be a consultation on the draft guidance but NICE cannot yet confirm a timetable. The dates for the consultation will become available on the website in due course. Information about the number of general practitioners (GPs) not providing anticoagulation therapy to all suitable people with atrial fibrillation is not held centrally. NHS England is promoting the use of GRASP-AF (Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention for Atrial Fibrillation) within GP practices in England. GRASP-AF is an audit tool developed by and trialled in the National Health Service, which greatly simplifies the process of identifying patients with atrial fibrillation who are not receiving the right management to help reduce their risk of stroke. To support this work, an analysis of the costs and benefits of using the anticoagulant drug warfarin to help prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation was published in 2015.

Pharmacy: Medical Records

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has for widening the use of NHS Digital to enable pharmacists to update a patient's health record.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Pharmacists working across a range of care settings are able to update patient records. In particular the general practice clinical pharmacist programme is funding 2,000 pharmacists over four years to work alongside general practitioners (GPs) and nurses in general practice with read/write access to patient health records. Clinical pharmacists in hospital practice also have read/write access to hospital patient records to support clinical practice. In some areas, community pharmacists have been given read/write access to support working with general practices particularly linked to any prescribing role they have. In addition, 96% of community pharmacists in England have now been provided with read access to the summary care record, which provides a summary of the data in the patient’s general practice record. In addition, 80% have now been provided with a secure NHSmail account which allows safe and secure communication between the pharmacist and the GP practice regarding patient encounters. Further work is underway to develop a solution that integrates updates recorded by a pharmacist directly into the GP record. This will take time to develop and implement due to the complexity involved.

Atrial Fibrillation

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the National Steering Committee review of its 2014 recommendation on national screening for atrial fibrillation.

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the 500,000 people who currently have undiagnosed atrial fibrillation, will be identified and appropriately managed over the next five years.

Steve Brine: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has commenced work to look at the evidence to screen the over 65 population for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) as part of its regular three year review cycle. It is expected that a public consultation will be open in 2018, which will welcome input from stakeholders and members of the public. In response to concerns raised in the UK NSC’s 2014 review about optimising clinical management, Public Health England’s (PHE) National Cardiovascular Intelligence Network has contributed to the development of AF intelligence packs to help commissioners to identify where improvements can be made to reduce the risk of stroke by improving the detection and treatment of AF. In addition PHE leads a national AF-related stroke prevention programme which aims to increase detection in line with expected prevalence and ensure people with AF are optimally treated and managed.

Diabetes and Hypertension: Pharmacy

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to evolve Medicines Use Reviews to enable community pharmacists to better support people with long-term conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Steve Brine: The Department is committed to supporting people with long term conditions manage their illness and take their medication correctly. In line with this ambition, eligibility for Medicine Use Reviews was amended from April 2015, to better target these services at patients who would derive the most benefit from it. This change required 70% of Medicine Use Reviews to be held with people within key target groups which included people with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The Department continues to develop and monitor the evidence base and effectiveness of all Advanced Services provided by community pharmacists to improve patient outcomes and make the best use of National Health Service resources. It will continue to do so and develop plans accordingly.

Abortion Act 1967

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to re-define the term serious handicap used in the Abortion Act 1967 to improve clarity in the healthcare profession.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women and their partners do not face undue pressure from healthcare professionals to have a termination on the grounds of disability.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will review the use of the term handicapped in section 1(b) of the Abortion Act 1967.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We expect clinicians to follow national guidelines and standards. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produced updated clinical guidance in the 2010 Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality. The guidance covers a number of issues including management of women in relation to termination of pregnancy and those who chose to give birth. The guidance highlights that women and their partners will need as much information as possible on the implications of the diagnosis, that all staff involved in the care of a woman or couple facing a possible termination of pregnancy must adopt a nondirective, non-judgemental and supportive approach and women must not feel pressurised to make a quick decision. The decision by a woman to continue her pregnancy must be fully supported and it should not be assumed that, even in the presence of an obviously fatal fetal condition, a woman will choose to have a termination. As with other matters of conscience, abortion is an issue on which the Government adopts a neutral stance and allows Members to vote according to their moral, ethical or religious beliefs. It is accepted Parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from back-bench members.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NICE plans to update its guidance on myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that it expects to publish the final updated guidance on myalgic encephalomyelitis in October 2020. The guideline update will be developed through NICE’s established clinical guidelines process that includes full public consultation.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Further Education

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of support provided by his Department for individuals suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis to access further education.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephaolomyelitis, published in 2007, makes a number of recommendations in regard to accessing education. The clinician overseeing an individual’s care should provide information on returning to work or education and recommend flexible adaptions that would make this possible. This may include, with consent, clinicians liaising with education providers and support services. The ability of a person to continue in education should be addressed early and reviewed regularly. The NICE guidance set outs best practice for clinicians on the diagnosis, treatment care and support of people with the condition and supports commissioners to to plan services for local populations. The full guidance can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53On 20 September 2017, NICE announced its decision to undertake a full update of the guidance. More information on this decision can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53/resources/surveillance-report-2017-chronic-fatigue-syndromemyalgic-encephalomyelitis-or-encephalopathy-diagnosis-and-management-2007-nice-guideline-cg53-pdf-5964455783941

Diets: Drugs

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made on the adequacy of the availability of vegan and vegetarian medicines.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that medicines are labelled to indicate whether they are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Steve Brine: Medicines are developed to treat or prevent particular medical conditions or their symptoms and are licensed on the basis of their quality, safety and efficacy. Although there are many medicines that are free from animal derived materials, there are also cases where no animal-free treatment option exists. This may be because the active ingredient cannot be made synthetically, or animal derived materials are necessary for the formulation or manufacture of the product. The current requirements for medicines labelling are set out in European and national legislation. Unlike food legislation, there is no mechanism for the inclusion within the labelling of a medicine for any information on whether or not the product is suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Patients who wish to identify such products will need to rely on the information that is provided in the accompanying patient information leaflet or directly by their pharmacist.

Hepatitis

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to eliminate Hepatitis C.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people who require treatment each year to meet the UK's commitment to eliminate Hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030.

Steve Brine: The United Kingdom government is a signatory to the World Health Assembly resolution and World Health Organization (WHO) goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat by 2030. Progress towards achieving the WHO elimination goal is summarised in this year’s Public Health England’s (PHE) report “Hepatitis C in the UK”:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632465/HCV_in_the_uk_report_2017.pdfThis showed that better access to improved treatment has led to the first fall in deaths from severe hepatitis C related liver disease in a decade and that the UK is on target for the WHO interim goal to reduce hepatitis C mortality by 10% by 2020. For England a sustainable rollout of access to new direct acting antivirals for treating chronic hepatitis C is underway with investment of in excess of £200 million per year. The current financial year (2017/18) is the third year of hepatitis C treatment ramp-up and the plan is to treat 12,500 individuals. An estimated 160,000 persons are believed to have hepatitis C in England. Further modelling work is being undertaken by PHE to update estimates of the impact of treatment roll out on prevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis C-associated advanced liver disease. Previous PHE modelling of the scale up of treatment indicates that a “rapid complete coverage” scenario of treating 20,000 or more individuals per year and up to 50% of those infected each year would result in end-stage liver disease / hepatocellular cancer being halved within 10 years.

NHS: Reorganisation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what national consultations the Government has undertaken on (a) sustainability and transformation partnerships and (b) accountable care organisations.

Steve Brine: The Government has not undertaken a national consultation on Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs). STPs are about local areas making decisions and ensuring National Health Service services are on a sustainable footing, and provide the best possible care for local people. The statutory organisations involved within STPs are accountable to local communities through their normal processes. Each is working to its own, locally appropriate timetable but many have already carried out extensive engagement with the public. In September 2016 NHS England published “Engaging local people: A guide for local areas developing Sustainability and Transformation Plans”. This document outlines the expectations on stakeholder involvement and in particular patient and public participation. A copy is attached. When there are proposals to substantially change the local configuration of services, NHS and local government organisations have a duty to consult their local communities. There are longstanding rules in place to assure this. Following an engagement exercise, NHS England produced a draft contract (a prototype variant of the NHS Standard Contract) which could be used, with NHS England’s agreement, by commissioners to contract for an accountable care organisation (ACO). The contract will be formally consulted upon in due course in compliance with NHS England’s statutory duties. The Department is currently consulting on a number of changes to secondary legislation which are designed to facilitate the development of ACOs. Further details can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643714/ACO-contract-reg-changes-consultation-1.pdf.



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Obesity: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling childhood obesity.

Steve Brine: My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, has not had any recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on tackling childhood obesity. There are ongoing discussions between officials in the Department and other Government departments on delivering our childhood obesity plan.

Cancer

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on implementing the National Cancer Strategy.

Steve Brine: NHS England is committed to delivering the recommendations set out in the National Cancer Strategy and transform cancer services across the country by 2020/21. The National Cancer Programme published a progress report on the implementation of the Independent Cancer Taskforce Report on 18 October. The report provides a detailed update against our strategic priorities to transform cancer services across the country by 2021.

Influenza: Health Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much contingency are funding is available from the public purse for NHS hospitals in the event of a severe influenza outbreak in 2017.

Mr Philip Dunne: Winter can often bring additional challenges but this year planning started earlier than ever before. Winter resilience money was included in National Health Service baseline funding for 2017/18 so that effective planning could start at an early stage. The NHS is committed to ensuring all patients continue to receive high quality, safe and efficient care as demand over winter increases. This Government has invested an extra £6 billion into the NHS over the last two years, plus £100 million ahead of winter to ease pressures on accident and emergency departments. An additional £2 billion of funding has been allocated to local authorities over the next three years, including £1 billion for 2017/18 to implement best practice in discharging patients safely and quickly to reduce delayed transfers of care.

NHS: Reorganisation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what processes his Department has put in place in the event of a (a) clinical commissioning group, (b) council or (c) NHS trust not complying with the decision of a sustainability and transformation plan.

Steve Brine: Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) are partnerships made up of local organisations, including commissioners, providers and local government. Each partnership is convened by a senior leader who has agreed to chair and lead the meetings on behalf of their peers. Each footprint has agreed to its own governance and representation, and all bodies represented on the partnership have agreed to abide by its decision making process.

Medical Treatments: Innovation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the system-wide cap of £20 million for NICE approved medicines proposed by NHS England with the aims and objectives of the Accelerated Access Review; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Government considers that the introduction of the budget impact test in April this year for technologies with an annual budget impact greater than £20 million per year is fully in line with the aims and objectives of the Accelerated Access Review. Under the budget impact test, £20 million does not represent a cap on what the National Health Service will spend on any individual drug in a given year. The test is simply intended to provide an opportunity for NHS England to enter into commercial negotiations with companies to bring down the price of very high cost medicines. The opportunity for companies to negotiate with NHS England will enable new types of commercial arrangement, which means that ‘win-win’ scenarios are possible for the NHS and industry, a key aim of the Accelerated Access Review.

Health Services: Tyne and Wear

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Path to Excellence proposals made by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Partnership on (a) service users and (b) the local population for people in (i) Jarrow constituency and (ii) South Tyneside.

Steve Brine: The ‘Path to Excellence’ is a five-year transformation of healthcare provision across South Tyneside and Sunderland being put forward under their Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs). The Government has not made a specific assessment on the effect of the ‘Path to Excellence’ proposals made by the Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Partnership on service users or the local population. However, in June 2017, NHS England published an STP dashboard that makes an assessment of all STP performance across England. The STP dashboard can be found here:https://www.england.nhs.uk/stps/sustainability-and-transformation-partnerships-progress-dashboard-baseline-view/The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear STP is rated as category 2 - ‘advanced’ in the published STP dashboard.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

Julia Lopez: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to introduce a nationwide, family-based, follow-up system to ensure comprehensive identification of people affected by familial hypercholesterolemia.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) is part of a cross-organisation national familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) Steering Group, led by the National Clinical Director for Heart Disease. PHE is working with NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), HEART UK and the British Heart Foundation on the development of an implementation guide which will be published in early 2018. The guide is for commissioners and local health economies, and aims to help facilitate the development of local FH services, supporting better identification and management of people and families affected by FH, across England. A cholesterol test is included as part of an NHS Health Check. Guidance alerts practitioners conducting the check to consider the possibility of FH in line with NICE. Emerging evidence shows that compared to routine primary care practice, the NHS Health Check programme is detecting more cases of FH.

Patients: Transport

Rachel Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people aged over 65 have adequate transport to and from routine hospital appointments.

Steve Brine: Non-emergency patient transport services (PTS) are available for patients that meet certain criteria, including but not limited to those who are aged over 65 and satisfy one or more of the criteria outlined in the document Eligibility Criteria for Patient Transport Services. A patient’s eligibility for PTS should be determined either by a healthcare professional or by non-clinically qualified staff who are both clinically supervised and/or working within locally agreed protocols or guidelines, and employed by the National Health Service or working under contract for the NHS.

Sugar: Consumption

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the amount of sugar consumed by people over 65-years of age and the health implications of that level of consumption.

Steve Brine: The most recent data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), published in September 2016, show that men and women aged 65 years and older derived 11.4% and 10.2% respectively of their total dietary energy from sugars. This is more than double the level recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition in its report ‘Carbohydrates and Health’ report published in July 2015 which recommended that the intake of free sugars should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy. The report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445503/SACN_Carbohydrates_and_Health.pdfThe sugars included in the NDNS assessment are those added to food during manufacture or cooking in the form of table sugar, honey or similar products, or released from the cell structure of food during processing, such as the sugars in fruit juice.

Sugar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to work with retailers to limit the availability of high sugar food and drink products at the point of sale.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to restrict the sale of high-sugar food and drink products at the point of sale.

Steve Brine: As part of our plan to tackle childhood obesity we launched a broad, structured and independently monitored sugar reduction programme, led by Public Health England (PHE), to remove sugar from the products children eat most. This can be achieved through reduction of sugar levels in products, reducing portion size or shifting purchasing towards lower sugar alternatives. Since March 2017, PHE has engaged with all of the food industry (retailers, manufacturers and the out of home sector) to discuss what industry could do to meet the 20% reduction in sugar by 2020. PHE will continue these discussions and will publish regular updates on progress towards the 20% sugar reduction. A list of PHE’s industry and other stakeholder engagement on this agenda was published in March and can be viewed here:www.gov.uk/government/publications/sugar-reduction-and-wider-reformulation-stakeholder-engagement

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the voluntary guidelines for food in early years settings set out in the Childhood Obesity Plan.

Steve Brine: As part of our Childhood Obesity Plan, we will publish and promote example menus for early years settings in England later this year.

AAT Deficiency: Health Services

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations made by the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group on 10 March 2017 on Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsyn services.

Steve Brine: The Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group recommended that this become a directly commissioned service by NHS England. Ministers have accepted this recommendation but agreed to NHS England’s request for more time to prepare for a transfer. As such, NHS England has agreed to work towards becoming the responsible commissioner from April 2018 to give NHS England time to identify patients and build an appropriate service specification.

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Healthy Start scheme in achieving the objectives of the Childhood Obesity Plan.

Steve Brine: The Healthy Start scheme delivers the goals of the Childhood Obesity Plan by supporting lower-income pregnant women and families to eat healthily. Healthy Start helps to encourage a healthy diet among pregnant women and children under four from low income households. It does this by providing vouchers to these families to purchase fruit, vegetables and milk. The Government has provided nutritional support to families for many years and our world-leading Childhood Obesity Plan published in August last year re-affirmed its commitment to Healthy Start and to helping children and families to recognise and make healthier choices and be more active.

Obesity: Surgery

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed requirement for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to go through an individual funding request before each patient is able to access bariatric surgery on (a) patient health and (b) capacity of CCGs to respond to that requirement.

Steve Brine: There is no national requirement for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to go through an individual funding request process before each patient is able to access bariatric surgery. The implementation and operation of CCG commissioning policies is a matter for individual CCGs to determine. NHS England has therefore made no formal assessment of this proposed requirement on CCGs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clinical Guidelines 43 (updated November 2014) is clear about which groups of individuals bariatric surgery can benefit, with both clinical and cost effectiveness demonstrated, and attendance at Tier 3 services required first. Tier 3 covers multidisciplinary weight management services which are normally commissioned by CCGs.

Eating Disorders: Scotland

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much NHS England has spent on specialised inpatient eating disorder services (a) in total and (b) using services provided by private sector organisations in Scotland in each if the last six (i) financial and (ii) calendar years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the start of the Meningitis B teenage carriage study; and when he plans for the results of that study to be published.

Jackie Doyle-Price: A team has been selected to carry out this study and work could potentially begin by the end of 2017. The work will be conducted as quickly as feasibly possible and at present results are expected by May 2021.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of budgetary changes to the funding of drug treatment programmes on mortality rates among heroin and crack cocaine users in England between 2013 and 2017.

Steve Brine: No assessment has been made on this specific issue. The Government is investing over £16 billion over the Spending Review period for local authorities (LAs) to spend on public health. LAs are responsible for making decisions on how to spend their local allocation but the public health grant conditions make it clear that they must have regard for the need to improve the take up of, and outcomes from, their drug and alcohol misuse treatment services. Public Health England (PHE) led an inquiry last year into the rises in drug-related deaths. The report of the expert working group convened by PHE concluded that the reasons behind the increase in drug-related deaths are multiple and complex. However, the recent rise has likely been caused – at least in part – by an increase in the availability of heroin, following a fall in deaths during a period when heroin purity and availability was significantly reduced. The longer-term upward trend in drug-related deaths is largely caused by an ageing cohort of heroin users, many of whom started to use heroin in the 1980s and 90s, who are now experiencing cumulative physical and mental health conditions that make them more susceptible to overdose. The inquiry report was published in September 2016 and is available at:http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/phe-understanding-preventing-drds.pdf

Drugs: Blackpool

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding from the public health grant his Department allocated to Blackpool for drug treatment budgets in the years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17.

Steve Brine: The public health grant is allocated to local authorities to meet all of their public health responsibilities and no amount is specifically allocated for drug treatment. It is up to each local authority to decide how much of the grant they wish to allocate to drug treatment services. The public health grant has a condition which requires local authorities to have regard to the need to improve the take up of, and outcomes from, its drug and alcohol misuse treatment services. Since it began in 2013, the public health grant allocation to Blackpool has been as follows; 2013-14 £17.46 million2014-15 £17.95 million2015-16 £18.29 million2016-17 £19.39 million Prior to 2013, drug treatment was mainly funded through a central government contribution known as the pooled treatment budget. In 2010-11, the pooled treatment budget allocation to Blackpool was £2.7 million.

Mental Health Services: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the (a) number of children having a delayed discharge from in-patient mental health treatment and (b) total number of delayed days for each (i) NHS region and (ii) mental health trust provider in England in each of the last three years.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the number of children entering child and adult mental health services treatment within (a) six weeks and (b) 18 weeks from the date of referral for each (i) clinical commissioning group area and (ii) Trust area for each month of the past year.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children started mental health treatment in each (a) clinical commissioning group area and (b) trust in each month of the last three years.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the number of children entering in-patient treatment for mental health conditions in each NHS region in England for each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This data is not currently available in the requested format.

Mental Health Services: Staff

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed by NHS England in the Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in each year since 2010.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) couple therapists, (b) interpersonal therapists, (c) brief psychodynamic therapists and (d) counsellors for depression have been employed by NHS England in the Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in each year since 2010.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he holds on how many (a) couple therapists, (b) interpersonal therapists, (c) brief psychodynamic therapists and (d) counsellors for depression have been employed in the Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme by clinical commissioning group in each year since 2010.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he holds on how many cognitive behavioural therapists have been employed by NHS England in the Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme by clinical commission group in each year since 2010.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he holds on how many staff were employed in the Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme by clinical commission group in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Information about the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) workforce is not available for every year since 2010.The IAPT Workforce Census report provides information on the size and shape of the IAPT workforce in England. Data is available from 2012 onwards, with publications in 2012, 2014 and 2015.Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were created as a result of the Health and Social Care Act in 2012, and replaced primary care trusts on 1 April 2013. IAPT workforce figures by CCG were first available in the 2015 Adult IAPT Workforce Census.The 2015 IAPT Workforce census includes information about cognitive behavioural therapists, couples therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depression, Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy and counselling. This can be found in Annex 3 of the 2015 report.2015: NHS England/Health Education England (5 September 2016). 2015 Adult IAPT Workforce Census Report. Accessed at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/09/adult-iapt-workforce-census-report-15.pdf

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the number of children dropping out of (a) child and adult mental health services treatment and (b) eating disorder treatment in each month of the past year for each (i) clinical commissioning group and (ii) trust in England.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the number of children entering in-patient treatment for eating disorders for each NHS region in England for each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not currently available in the requested format.

Mental Health Services: Children

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate NHS England has made of the baseline level of investment clinical commissioning groups need to commit to children's mental health services in order to provide an acceptable level of service.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England has not made such an estimate. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for investing funds in line with the requirement to deliver national standards and the needs of the population they serve.

Eating Disorders: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children started eating disorder treatment in each (a) clinical commissioning group area and (b) trust in each of the last 36 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England publishes an experimental data collection for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder. The dataset contains information on the number of children and young people who have accessed, or are waiting for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended treatment following a routine or urgent referral for a suspected eating disorder. Findings by provider and clinical commissioning group are available for Q1 2017-18 at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cyped-waiting-times/

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the number of children completing (a) child and adult mental health services treatment and (b) eating disorders treatment in each month of the past year for each (i) clinical commissioning group and (ii) Trust in England.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not available in the requested format. NHS England publishes an experimental national data set for Children and Young People’s Mental Health. The dataset contains information on the number of children and young people who have accessed, or are waiting for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended treatment following a routine or urgent referral for a suspected eating disorder. Findings by provider and clinical commissioning groups are available for Q1 2017-18 at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cyped-waiting-times/

Mental Health Services: Children

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the local authority spending on children's mental health by area for the last two years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The data requested is not collected centrally.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were (a) referred to a CAMHS service and (b) accepted by a CAMHS services for each (i) clinical commissioning group area and (ii) trust in each of the last 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not held in the format requested.

Eating Disorders: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children had a delayed discharge from in-patient eating disorder treatment and how many days of delayed discharge there were in each (a) NHS region and (b) mental health trust provider in England for each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the level of spending on universal and targeted (non specialist) child and adolescent mental health services in each clinical commissioning group area in England in the last 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not available in the format requested.

Mental Health Services: Children

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish clinical commissioning group spending on children's mental health by area for the last two years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is available for 2016/17 in the Mental Health Five Year Forward View for Mental Health Dashboard, which is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/mental-health-five-year-forward-view-dashboard/This gives information by region and by clinical commissioning group. For 2015/16, the data is for available by region and clinical commissioning group.

Emergency Calls: East Sussex

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the number of emergency calls which have been put on hold in East Sussex in the last 12 months.

Mr Philip Dunne: This information is not held centrally.

Women and Equalities

Members: Females

Jo Stevens: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of female hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.

Anne Milton: In the 2017 general election 208 women were elected Members of Parliament, an increase of almost 9% from 191 women at the 2015 election. The government agrees we would like to see more women elected so that Parliament can more accurately represent the diverse British public that it serves. The government is looking at ways to support political parties to increase the numbers of women Parliamentary and local council candidates, including with guidance and academic research.